Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney and illustrated by Annette Cable introduces the idea of maps and explains that they are all around us.
“Just think…in rooms, in houses, on streets, in towns, in countries all over the world, everybody has their own special place on the map.”
Sweeney begins explaining mapping in a very small way, “This is Me. This is me in my room. This is a map of my room.” She continues expanding to house, street, town, state, country, and finally world. With each example there is a map. Sweeney then explains, through the narration of a little girl, how to find her “special place on the map”. The second half of the book is the little girl going from the big picture of a globe and back-tracking all the way to her bedroom. She first finds her country, then her state, then her town, then her street, her house and finally her bedroom.
Curriculum Connections
Me on the Map is suitable for kindergarten through 2nd graders and compliments Virginia SOL 1.4 and 1.5. First grade students can easily read this story, and it is a great story to read to your class before having them draw their own maps. It will help them recognize how maps work and how they can either be large scale and show the whole world or they can be detailed and show a small place such as their bedroom or backyard.
Additional Resources
- A geography activity that helps students recognize differences in communities.
- An interactive activity to help students with geographical vocabulary through the use of riddles. Ex: I run but I have no legs. River.
- Map making lesson/activity. Making a treasure map to find a treasure hidden in the classroom.
Book: Me on the Map
Author: Joan Sweeney
Illustrator: Annette Cable
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Publication Date: 1996
Pages: 32
Grade Range: K-2
ISBN:978-0517700952