Mapping Marlow Island: Directions, Grid Squares, and Scale

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Social Studies · Social Studies 6-8
SP-SS68-001 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 2
Mapping Marlow Island: Directions, Grid
Squares, and Scale
Social Studies · Social Studies 6-8 · Grades 6-7 · 50 minutes
Time needed
50 minutes (one class period)
Prep
Copy the 2-page worksheet (one per student). Write on the board: “Letter = column. Number
= row. North is at the top.”
Technology
None.
Student
independence
High. Students work alone, then compare with a partner.
Copies to make
One 2-page worksheet per student
Materials
Pencils, Worksheet, Whiteboard or chalkboard
Goal for today: Students will use grid coordinates, compass directions, and a map scale to locate places and measure
distances on a map.
Before the bell
☐ Copy the worksheet, one per student (2 pages).
☐ Write on the board: Letter = column (across). Number = row (down). North is at the top of the map.
☐ Write the scale on the board: 1 square = 200 meters.
☐ Keep the answer key on your desk. You do not need to know any geography.
Say this to start
Good morning! Today is a map-reading day. You will explore an imaginary place called Marlow Island. Maps use a few
simple tools: a compass for direction, a grid to name locations, and a scale to measure distance. The worksheet
explains each one. Work quietly on your own first, and then you will check answers together.

SubstitutePlans.com
Social Studies · Social Studies 6-8
SP-SS68-001 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 3
Run of show
Minutes
What you do
What students do
0–5
Take attendance. Hand out the worksheet. Ask students to
put their name on it and wait.
Settle in and write their names.
5–12
Read the board aloud. Do one example: “B2 means go to
column B, then down to row 2. On this map, B2 is the Town
Hall.” Point to B2 on a copy of the map. Then show that
going up is north and going right is east.
Listen, follow on their own map, and find
B2.
12–32
Tell students to complete questions 1–12 on their own.
Walk the room. If a student is stuck, ask, “Which way is
north? Which is the column letter?”
Answer the three multiple-choice questions
and read the map to answer questions
4–12.
32–40
Tell students to do question 13 (directions) and the
true/false items 14–15. Let partners compare answers for
question 13 only, quietly.
Write directions for question 13 and answer
the true/false items.
40–46
Read the answers to questions 1–12 aloud from the key.
Students mark their papers.
Check their answers and fix mistakes.
46–50
Have students answer question 16, then collect all
worksheets.
Write one sentence and hand in the
worksheet.
If things go wrong
• If students say they have not studied maps, tell them everything they need is on the page and on the board.
Ask a confident student to explain the grid to a neighbor.
• If a student mixes up rows and columns, point to the board: letter first (across), number second (down).
• If a student finishes early, check question 13 and then use the early finisher list.
• If the class gets noisy, remind them this is quiet individual work until the check at 40 minutes.
Early finishers
• Draw your own small 3×3 grid on the back and place four made-up locations. Write three coordinate
questions for a neighbor.
• Write directions from the Pier to the Windmill using compass directions and squares.
Support and challenge
• Support: Let students use a ruler or finger to trace across and down. Suggest they do questions 1–10 first.
• Challenge: Ask students to find the distance in meters from the Library to the Campground (3 squares across,
1 down) and explain how they counted.

SubstitutePlans.com
Social Studies · Social Studies 6-8
SP-SS68-001 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 4
Notes for the teacher (you fill this in)
Jot a few lines before you leave. A full Daily Sub Report is in the free Sub Survival Kit at SubstitutePlans.com.
How far the class got / what to pick up next:
Students who were especially helpful:
Anything the teacher should know: