Where Do I Live?

Materials

Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney

Instructions

This project will take a week to finish. It can be part of a "Me" theme, where the
children learn about themselves and the world around them.
Monday
1. Read Me on the Map during circle time. This book follows a girl as she learns
about the world around her, and it will help the children understand what
they will be doing during the week. The children will go on the same type of
journey that the girl in the book goes on. (As the week progresses you may
want to refer back to the book to reinforce what the children have already
learned.)
2. After reading the book, ask the children questions such as: "Where do you
live?" "What does your house look like?" "What does your bedroom look
like?" "Do you have a favorite place in your house?"
3. After the discussion, encourage the children to draw a picture of their
bedroom and their house. Help them label the different items in their
bedroom. Hang the pictures so everyone can see each other's homes and
bedrooms.
4. An alternate idea is to ask parents to take pictures of the child's bedroom and
house and bring them in. Glue the pictures to construction paper and label
them.
Tuesday
1. Before class, make copies of a small house (to fit on a map) and cut them out.
2. During circle time, review what the children did the day before. Explain that
today they are going to learn about their neighborhood and the town they
live in.
3. Ask the children about their neighborhood. "What does your street look
like?" "Are there stores where you live?" "Do you have a library nearby?" "Do
you have a park in your neighborhood?"
4. After the discussion, place a map of your town on a table and ask the
children to sit around it. Show them on the map where their school is and
circle it. Now help each child find the street he lives on. When you find each
street, place a house there and add the child's name on the house.
5. If there is a park, library, or other interesting place near the child's home, point it
out and put a circle around it. Also point out interesting places in their town,
such as airports, zoos, and museums. This will help the children become familiar
with the different places in their town outside of their neighborhood.
6. When you are finished with the town map, hang it on the wall.
Wednesday
1. Before class, make copies of a state map.
2. During circle time, review what you have done so far. Talk about how they
are going to learn about the state they live in and where their town is located
in the state. Explain that there are many towns in the state, and children just
like them in each town.
3. Lay the state map on a table and ask the children to sit around it. Talk about
the interesting shape of the state. Explain that the star on the map represents
the capital of the state. If desired, tell them a little about their state, its
history, what crops are grown there, and so on.
4. After the discussion help the children find their town on the map and circle
it. When you are finished hang the map on the wall next to the town map.
5. Hand out the state maps and help them put their town on it. Encourage
them to color their maps if they want to. Hang the maps on the wall or put
them aside to use in a book at the end of the lesson.
Thursday
1. Before class, make copies of a United States map.
2. During circle time, review what you have done so far. Explain that their state
is part of the United States.
3. Show them a map of the United States. Explain that many states make up the
United States. Ask them to count the states. "How many states did you
count?" "Can we find our state?" When they find the state on the map, circle
it. Hang it next to the state map.
4. Give each child a copy of the United States map. Ask them to find their state
on the map and color it. Help them write the state's name. Hang them on
the wall or put them aside to use in a book at the end of the lesson.
Friday
1. Before class, make copies of a world map. Find pictures of different children
representing different cultures around the world and cut them out.
2. During circle time, read This Is My House by Arthur Dorros. This book has
pictures of different homes that children live in around the world. After
reading the story review what you have done so far. Explain that the United
States is part of the world.
3. Show them a world globe and explain that it shows all the countries in the
world. Point out the United States, and slowly turn the globe so the children
can see the other countries that make up the world. Name a few of the
countries and explain that there are children just like them who live all over
the world. They go to school and play with toys. Referring back to the book
This Is My House, talk about how the children live in houses like they do, but
their houses are different from theirs.
4. Show them a world map and ask them to circle the United States.
5. Show them pictures of children from different countries. Encourage them to
match the pictures to the countries where they live. When you are finished,
hang the map next to the United States map.
6. The children can look at the maps to see that they live in a house, which is in
a town, which is in a state, which is in the United States, which is a part of
the world!
7. Give each child a world map to color. Set it aside to use in a book at the end
of the lesson.
Summary: Putting the Book Together
1. Give each child a piece of construction paper to make a cover for the book.
2. Write or type the following paragraph on a piece of paper. Make copies and
give one to each child to use as the introduction page.
____________ (child's name) is a very special person. This book tells the story
of the world he/she lives in. ____________ lives in a house on
_____________ (child's address) in_______________ , ____(city, state).
This is just a small part of the world surrounding me. I have learned there are
children who live around the world and go to school and play just like I do.
As I grow up I will learn more about the world I live in, and one day when I
am grown I will be able to go and see the world around me.
3. Encourage the children to put their books together, with the cover,
introduction page, drawings, and maps.