Teaching through Integration: Maps and Globes in Kindergarten

Hi, it's Cathy from Cathy Collier's The W.I.S.E. Owl. I've told you in the past I am a Reading Specialist from a K-2 school AND my school has half-day kindergarten. That's right...3 hours to get it all done. "How?" you might ask. Well, we can never teach 1 thing at a time in isolation. It all has to integrated.

Maps and Globes

This is a classic example of how we need to integrate each standard into the other.

Read Alouds

Make the map come to life, choose a read aloud from each continent and map it as you go. There are wonderful picture books representing each continent, choose your favorite. I love using the following: North America - Mama, Do You Love Me?, South America - Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Said the Sloth, Africa - Where Are You Going, Manyoni?, Europe - Strega Nona, Asia - Daisy Comes Home, Oceania - Koala Lou, and Antarctica - 5 Little Penguins Slipping on the Ice.

Poem of the Week

First, the Shared Reading poem of the week is called Maps. The poem is read each day with a different emphasis. Lessons throughout the week include: 1-on-1 voice to work match, rhyming words, word families, vocabulary, punctuation, fluency, and comprehension.

Math Lesson

Before telling your students there is more water than land on the earth...throw a ball at them. (HEHE) When my oldest was born a friend gave me a stuffed model of the earth. I kept it in his room for years then I moved it to my classroom. I explain to students that I will throw the ball at them, and when they catch it they need to look at their thumbs. Are their thumbs on water or land? We tally their thumbs. Typically, the ratio of water to land will come through in their catch. After we catch the ball and tally we analyze the data. We come to the conclusion there is more water than land on the earth. To get an earth ball, CLICK HERE.

Map Features

Make an anchor chart using map features, specifically land features v. water features. AFTER making the anchor chart, make them use it. Add a student chart to the Social Studies Center or Sorting Center the following week.

Maps v. Globes

Students can distinguish between a map and a globe. This is a perfect hands-on exploration activity. Give the students maps (you can get some from AAA for free) and a variety of globes (I love looking for these at thrift shops). They can see the differences. Making a T-chart is a natural progression.

Writing

Let's do an easy 4 square. Students can use the aspects of a map or a globe, to write a Non-Fiction Essay.

Poetry Center

The following week, putting the poem of the week in the poetry center helps review the poem. There are different ideas for the Poetry Center. In the example below, students will circle and color the word wall words.