My students love map activities. There is a buzz of excitement when I pull down the very old, faded, oversized board map. When they look at the placemat-sized mats I hand them, they point out places they've heard of or "where their grandma lives." It also amazes me how much they don't know when looking at a map!
Here are a couple of map songs, books, and activities that I like to use in my classroom.
1. Continents and Oceans Songs
Here are some fun YouTube videos that play catchy continent songs:
Seven Continents Song by Hopscotch
Seven Continents Song by Valerydesigns
7 Continent and 5 Oceans by Bobby's Backyard
Give your students a labeled map and sing and point to the continents.
2. Continents and Oceans Map Activities
You can get your kids up, moving, and learning with informational task cards. With 20 informational task cards and a question sheet, students can scoot around the room from card to card, learning about each continent.
Informational Task Cards are easy prep for teachers and engaging for students...
1. Tape the task cards around the room or place them in a center.
2. Make each student a copy of the task card worksheet.
3. Students should read each task card and then answer the corresponding question on the worksheet.
3. Label the Continents and Oceans on blank maps
Use a map activities rubric to fill in the map.
Personally, I like to use blank maps and give the kids rulers to make straight lines and label the map.
For students who have trouble writing neatly, I give them maps with lines already drawn.
4. Find the Physical Features of the World
Your students can extend their knowledge of continents and oceans to physical features of the world.
They can find mountains, rivers, deserts, and oceans on the map.
My students always need to use a physical map to support them with this, but they love finding the physical features.
5. Make a Continents Brochure
Students love having something to show when they're done. As you reach the end of your unit, provide each student with a brochure and a paper with continents.
Students color, cut, and glue each continent onto the brochure. Then, students write one fact they learned about the continents. Fold and share.
I hope your students have fun learning about the continents and oceans with these map skill activities!
