🌍 Social StudiesLevel 1Lesson 12
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My Neighborhood Map

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

What you will learn

  • 1Explain what a map is
  • 2Name common places found in a neighborhood
  • 3Use simple location words to describe where places are on a map
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Mini Lesson

Have you ever looked down from a tall building and seen the streets, parks, and houses below? A map shows us that same view — from above!

What is a map?

  • A map is a drawing that shows an area from above, like a bird looking down.
  • Example: A neighborhood map shows the streets, buildings, parks, and other places in a local area.
  • Maps use symbols — small pictures or colored shapes — to show places, and they help us find our way.

Places on a neighborhood map

  • Home — where people live.
  • School — where children go to learn.
  • Park — a green outdoor space for playing and relaxing.
  • Store — a place to buy food, clothes, or other things.
  • Fire station — where firefighters and their trucks are based.
  • Library — a place to borrow books and read.

Location words

  • We use words like next to, across from, near, and between to describe where things are on a map.
  • Example: "The park is next to the school."

Words to know

Map

A drawing that shows an area from above

e.g. A map shows my street.

Neighborhood

The streets and places near where you live

e.g. My neighborhood has a small park.

Location

Where a place is

e.g. The library's location is on Main Street.

Next to

Right beside something

e.g. The school is next to the park.

Between

In the middle of two things

e.g. The store is between two houses.

A simple neighborhood mapA bird's-eye view map showing a grid of streets with labeled buildings: Home, School, Park, Store, Fire Station, and LibraryMy Neighborhood MapHomeSchoolParkStoreFireStationLibraryLocation words:"The park is next to the school.""The fire station is across from the school."
A simple bird's-eye neighborhood map showing six labeled places — Home, School, Park, Store, Fire Station, and Library — connected by streets, with example location sentences below
Map key showing symbols for six neighborhood placesA map legend with six rows, each showing a colored square symbol and the name of the place it represents on the neighborhood mapMap KeyHome — where people liveSchool — where children learnPark — outdoor play spaceStore — where we shopFire Station — for firefightersMaps use symbols to show places quickly!
A map key listing the symbols and names for five common neighborhood places — with a note that maps use symbols to show places quickly
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Ask yourself: "What places do I know near my home? Can I use the words next to, near, or across from to describe where they are?"

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