| 🎯 Objective | Students will identify the four cardinal directions and use a map key to interpret a simple map |
| 📊 Grade Level | Grade 2–3 |
| ⏱️ Duration | 40 minutes |
| 📚 Subject | Social Studies — Geography |
Ask: "If I told you to walk north, would you know which way to go?" Let students guess, then introduce that maps use four main directions to help us find our way: north, south, east, and west.
Show a compass rose and explain the four cardinal directions, using the classroom itself as a reference (point to the actual north wall, etc., if known). Then show the prepared classroom or school map and explain the map key — the small box showing what each symbol on the map represents.
As a class, use the prepared map to answer questions together: "What's north of the library?" "What symbol represents the cafeteria, and where is it?" Point to the compass rose each time to reinforce direction, and the map key each time to reinforce symbol interpretation.
Students draw a simple map of a familiar space (their bedroom, the classroom, the playground), including at least three labeled locations, a simple map key with two symbols, and a compass rose showing the four directions.
A few students share their map and describe the location of one place using a cardinal direction ("the desk is east of the door").
Check that the independent map includes a compass rose with all four directions correctly placed, a map key that matches the symbols actually used, and that at least one location is described using correct directional language.
Support: Provide a pre-drawn compass rose and map key template to fill in rather than draw from scratch. Extension: Ask advanced students to include intermediate directions (northeast, southwest) on their compass rose.
Students will identify the four cardinal directions and use a map key to interpret a simple map.
It's designed for Grade 2–3.
The full lesson takes about 40 minutes.
It's a Social Studies — Geography lesson.
Support: Provide a pre-drawn compass rose and map key template to fill in rather than draw from scratch. Extension: Ask advanced students to include intermediate directions (northeast, southwest) on their compass rose.
Yes, it's free to use and adapt for your classroom, with no sign-up required.