Year 1 Explore the World Through Maps

 

🌍 Year 1 Explore the World Through Maps!

Year 1 have been busy becoming young geographers this week, diving into the fascinating world of maps and developing their understanding of the wider world as well as their own surroundings.

The children began by exploring a world map, using it to identify where we live and to locate the seven continents, the five oceans, and the equator. They were excited to spot familiar places and amazed by how big our planet really is. This sparked lots of thoughtful discussion about different countries, climates, and how far away other continents are from the UK.

From there, the children moved on to learning about map plans. They discovered how maps are drawn from a bird’s‑eye view, and they practised looking at objects and spaces from above. This new perspective helped them understand why maps look the way they do and how symbols are used to represent real‑life features.

To put their learning into action, Year 1 headed outside to explore the school grounds. Clipboards in hand, they searched for key features they might include on a map—such as the playground, garden areas, pathways, and important landmarks. The children worked carefully, noticing shapes, positions, and how different areas connect.

Finally, they used all this information to create their own maps of the school grounds. Their finished pieces show fantastic attention to detail, clear use of symbols, and a growing confidence in using geographical skills.

It’s been a wonderful week of curiosity, exploration, and creativity. We’re so proud of how enthusiastically Year 1 have embraced their map‑making adventure. 🌟

If you’d like to continue the learning at home, try looking at maps together—on paper, online, or even in storybooks. Children love spotting familiar places and discovering new ones.