United States Map - Lesson 9 (K-3)

Objectives

The students will use the four main directions to locate states on a United State Map.

Materials Needed

United States Political Map, draw a compass rose on a post-it-note

Lesson

Pull down the United States Map. Review the four main directions by using the Direction Skills inset map in the upper right corner.

Tell the students that today they are going to use the United States Map to take an imaginary trip. They will visit different states in the United States. To get from one state to another they will need to tell the other students which direction they will travel.

Use the compass rose post-it-note. Place this direction indicator near the center of your state. Use the political map legend to review the meaning of state and the boundary symbol used to show where one state begins and another ends. Ask the students to name the state, country and/or body of water north of your state. Follow the same procedure for the other main directions.

Ask the students if they have visited any other states. Help them locate the states on the United States Map. What states did they drive through to get to their destination? What direction did they go?

Lesson .pdf file (Printable Lesson)

Return to U.S. Map Lesson Plans Table of Contents (K-3)