Lesson Plan
My School Atlas
Put your school on the map! Students will have fun creating an atlas of their very own school that includes maps and reference details.
Grade:
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Learning Objectives
Students will design one page of a school atlas, which includes a map of their classroom and a description of what happens in that space.
Introduction
(10 minutes)- Tell students that they will be working together to create a school atlas today.
- Ask students to share what they know about atlases. If no one suggests this, tell them that an atlas is a book of maps.
- Tell students that there are many different kinds of maps, so there are many different kinds of atlases. Introduce some of the atlases you have collected by reading the titles and showing them to the students.
- Ask for and give examples of the different kinds of maps: road maps, astronomical maps, population maps, weather maps, and so on.
- Tell students that in addition to the maps, atlases also contain supporting information. Show an example from an atlas. (For example, an atlas of the United States might include text that describes the food grown in each state.)
- Tell students that the school atlas they will be designing will include maps and supporting information for some of the classrooms and offices at their school.
- Tell students that they will be assigned a classroom or office for the school atlas. They will draw a map of their assigned room, then write an essay about what happens in that room. (Depending on your school, examples of rooms include classrooms, library, cafeteria, gym, art room, computer room, and the principal's office.)