Teaching Map Reading Skills
Learning to Find and Read Coordinates on a Grid Using Games
A variety of toy store and home-made games can be used to help your homeschooled child learn about coordinates.
Teaching your child how to read and label points on a grid can be a lot of fun for both of you. Not only will an understanding of coordinates help your child become a better map reader, he or she will also be learning an important skill that transfers well to Math and Science activities too.
Ready to get started? Below are some suggestions
Play Battleship
Not only is this an ideal game for teaching coordinates, this game also encourages children to plan ahead and to develop strategies for play. Children can practice their logical thinking skills without even realizing they are doing school work.
Use Muffin Tins for Coordinate Practice
Using masking tape trimmed to fit the edges, label the horizontal rows with letters and the vertical rows with numbers. Drop small objects such as buttons, paperclips, erasers, etc. into random cups and ask your child to give you the coordinates for each. Vary the game by hiding flat objects under cupcake liners. Call out the coordinates of the liners you want your child to check under.
Use two muffin pans. Place your pan where your child can't see it, but you can. Drop small objects into a couple of the cups on your pan. Give your child a handful of dried beans, died macaroni or other small markers. Have him try to guess where you've hidden the objects in your pan. Each time he calls out a coordinate that is incorrect, he can drop a bean into the cup as a reminder that he's already tried that location.
Make Your Own or Use a Printable Grid
Partner Activity: Cut strips of varying sizes from construction paper. Size them so that they fit well across two, three or four coordinates on your grid. The first partner tells the second partner how many of each size strip is being hid in his grid. The second partner tries to guess where items are hidden. She marks her incorrect answers on her own grid with pieces of colored paper, buttons, etc. Correct answers can be marked with a different kind of marker, such as a penny. When all coordinates of the item have been found the first partner announces the find.
Solo self checking activity: Make a deck of cards that lists all the possible coordinates for your grid. Shuffle the deck and place it face down. Turn over one card at a time and mark the coordinate on your grid. When only one card remains in the face down position, look at your grid to see which spot remains uncovered. Name this spot out loud. Turn over the last remaining card. Does it name the spot you predicted it would?
Play Connect Four
This game, too, can be used to reinforce the concept of coordinates, especially if you use masking tape or a grease pencil to label the outer edges of the game with letters and/or numbers so that a discussion of coordinates is made easier. (If you don't already own versions of the games mentioned here, try checking for them at thrift stores. Just remember to look inside to make sure the box contains enough game pieces to make play possible.)
Throw Dice
If you child needs additional practice reading coordinates in the correct order, try this game. Select dice of two very different sizes, colors, or textures. Designate one dice for revealing the horizontal coordinate and the other for the vertical position. Have him call out the coordinate revealed by the throw.
Many more variations will probably come to mind as you play and teach. Use as many as you have time for, or just concentrate on your child's favorites. Either way, your child will be learning an important skill that he will use for a lifetime.
