Blocks: Create a Neighborhood Map

During this early childhood lesson plan preschool children begin outdoor and then continue indoor as they use creative thinking, problem solving and spatial awareness skills.

You will need:
Unit or table blocks, colored or masking tape, construction paper and trashable materials such as tubes, egg cartons, small boxes and containers. Also, experience chart paper, markers and a local map (optional).

Outside: Teachers and preschool children take a walk together around the neighborhood. Look carefully at the buildings closest to yours. Then notice important roads / streets and other buildings nearby. When you come back inside, record the children's observations and descriptions on an experience chart.

Inside: With a small group of youngsters talk about maps and, if you can, locate where your building is on a local map. Mark where you took your walk with a red marker and then explain that together you are going to make you own neighborhood "map" out of blocks.

Teachers provide preschool children with construction paper and tape and help them make a "floor" for the map. Use tape to make the roads / streets, green paper for yards and parks etc. Next talk about what buildings to include. This works best when you start with your building and then move to buildings further away. Use the trashable items to create the structures. Keep in mind that accuracy is not the most important thing. The process young children work through is the key. Youngsters learn from the cooperative experience of interpreting real life into block forms.

Extension: After the map is complete take another outdoor walk and again look carefully at the buildings. When you return to the classroom ask children to consider ways they would like to change and improve the neighborhood. Ask, "What can we add to our map? What do you think would make our neighborhood more fun and attractive?"

As youngsters brainstorm, chart their suggestions. Encourage them to use their imaginations. But before you make any improvements take a picture of the "old" neighborhood map. After making improvements with the trashable materials, take a picture of the "new" neighborhood. Use the pictures to help children dictate a story about the experience.

Story time suggestions: