Cross Curricular in Grade 1: Merging Math and Social Studies

There are some topics that lend themselves so well to cross curricular work. Once of those topics happen to be Maps in the first grade Social Studies curriculum.

Geography Strand:4: Maps can be used to locate and identify places.
MD 1. Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.

Students used Google Maps to plot out a route from the site of their new transition site school, to their original school. Using student prior knowledge about their community, the directions (North, South, East, and West) were reviewed and talked about in relation to the new transition site. Lake Eire is North, Fairview Park is South, Rocky River is West, and Cleveland is East.

The directions were then used by students to create a walking map from St. Luke School to Lincoln Elementary in Lakewood. 

After the map was created, we looked at how many intersections we would need to cross, where we would need to stop, look, and listen, as part of being a good citizen (again, drawing on prior knowledge).

We then asked students to look at the sidewalk in between each intersection and compare then lengths. We found which was longest and which was shortest. As a stretch, we also measured each length in feet with the ruler available on Google Maps to check to see if we were correct in our ordering of lengths.

You can see the interactive map that was shared with parents via Blogger below.