# Lesson 172: My neighborhood map

🟡 SOCIAL STUDIES (40 Lessons) • 🔵 B. My School and Community

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## Objective

I can draw a simple map of my neighborhood and show where key places are.

## Materials

- Blank paper or a simple printed map template
- Pencils, crayons, or markers
- Ruler (optional) for drawing roads
- Optional: photos or small pictures of places like home, park, shop, school

## Mini-lesson — What is a map?

A map is a simple picture that shows where places are. It is like looking from above.

Maps can show

- Where your home is.
- Where places like a park, shop, or school are.
- How to go from one place to another.

Helpful map words

- road or street — where we walk or drive.
- near — close to you.
- far — not close.
- left and right — the two sides when we turn.

Important notes

- Every neighborhood is different. That is okay.
- Some children live near many places. Others live where it is quiet.
- We always follow safe rules from an adult when we move around.

Maps do not say that one neighborhood is better than another. They just show where things are.

Picture strip: Simple neighborhood map

## Guided Practice — Draw my neighborhood map

You will draw a simple map of your own neighborhood. Use symbols instead of big pictures.

1. Draw a small square for your home. Write "home" under it.
2. Add lines for roads or streets near your home.
3. Add up to three places you know, such as park, shop, or school. Draw small shapes and write their names.
4. Use arrows to show a safe path from home to one place. Ask an adult which path is safe.
5. With an adult, practise saying: "My home is near the _____ ." or "The park is to the left of my home."
6. If you cannot draw your real neighborhood, you may draw an imagined one with safe roads and quiet paths.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Trace
Pen

## Practice — Talk through your map

Use your map to tell an adult about your neighborhood. Focus on safe and kind ways to move between places.

1. Point to your home on the map and say: "This is my home."
2. Point to one place on your map (for example, park, shop, school) and say where it is: "The park is near my home." or "The shop is on this road."
3. With an adult, use your finger to follow a safe path from home to one place. Say: "I go along this road and turn left."
4. Tell an adult one safe rule you should follow on that path (for example, holding a hand, waiting at a crossing, or staying on the path).
5. Add a small heart or star near one place you feel happy visiting. Say why you like it.

## Quick Check — My neighborhood map

Answer each question about maps, neighborhoods, and safe choices. These questions do not judge where anyone lives. All kinds of neighborhoods are okay.

1) What does a map show?

Where places are. Only people's faces. Only favourite toys.
Maps show where places are, like home and park.

2) On your map, what is the best symbol for your home?

A big cloud in the sky. A small square or house shape with "home" under it. A picture of random food.
Simple shapes with words help maps stay clear.

3) Which word means "close to you"?

right far near
"Near" means close to you.

4) Which set of places can be in a neighborhood?

home, park, shop, school moon, sun, rocket, star only huge towers far away
Many neighborhoods have homes and local places.

5) A child says, "My neighborhood is quiet." What is a kind reply?

"Quiet places are bad." "That is fine. All neighborhoods are different." "Mine is better than yours."
We respect all kinds of neighborhoods.

6) When you move around your neighborhood, what should you do?

Run into the road without looking. Ignore all rules from adults. Follow safe rules that an adult teaches you.
Adults help us choose safe paths and rules.

7) On a map, what do roads or streets look like?

Lines that show where people walk or drive. Big circles in the sky. Only stars and rainbows.
Lines can stand for roads and streets.

8) Someone says, "Your neighborhood is not real because it has only a few places." What is a kind thought?

Only big busy places are real. Neighborhoods can be small or big. Both are real. We should laugh at small places.
We do not judge neighborhoods by size.

9) You and an adult look at your map. What is a good question to ask?

"Which place is worse?" "Who has the best house here?" "Can you show me a safe way to walk on this map?"
We focus on safety and learning, not on judging.

10) Why is it useful to make a map of your neighborhood?

To say which neighborhood is best. To see where places are and talk about safe paths. To hide where everything is.
Maps help us see and talk about places clearly.

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Student can explain that a map shows where places are. Student can mark home and at least one other place on their map. Student uses simple map words such as home, park, shop, school, near, left, and right. Student understands that all kinds of neighborhoods are okay. Student can name at least one safe rule for moving around the neighborhood.

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can draw and talk about my neighborhood map. 🙂 I can draw some places, but I want more practice with maps. 😅 Maps still feel a bit tricky for me.

#### Next time I will practise…

Using words like near and far Showing safe paths on my map Talking kindly about different neighborhoods
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