Lesson 10

Symbol-O

Description:

Students will learn map symbols though an activity similar to Animal-O. Here they will use a map legend to learn the relationship between symbols and their corresponding features, and then proceed to locate that feature in order to find each checkpoint.

Learning Objectives for Lesson:

• Map symbols

• Memory

• Spatial awareness

• Electronic timing

• Following a specified sequence

• Map reading

• Speed

Materials:

• Pictures of 10 features

• (Traffic) cones

• Timing Equipment:

  • SI boxes

  • SI download & printer

  • SI cards

• Map legend/key

• Symbol courses

• Answer key

• Extra teacher/volunteer

• OPTIONAL:

  • Draw a map of the space

Intro:

For this activity, the emphasis will be on learning the relationship between symbols and real world features. By now everyone should know how to use a map key to learn what each symbol represents. For this activity, students will need to use a key to identify the relationship between symbols and their features, and then find those features in real life.

Warm Up:

Lightning E-Punch: Students race to each control as fast as they can.

Main Activity:

Symbol-O: This activity operates almost exactly the same way as Animal-O. The added challenge here is that students will receive a sheet depicting different map symbols, and each of the images they are looking for displays the real-life features that corresponds to each symbol. They must learn the relationship between the map symbols and the actual features in order to identify each correct checkpoint.

Extra Activity:

Moving Tower: Students have a stack of three objects which they must disassemble one piece at a time, and reassemble elsewhere. For an added challenge, give the students 3 circles to use, where they must move the objects from one circle to another, and the objects can only ever be stacked in the same order.

Reflection:

• How did you remember which symbols represent which features? 

• Were some symbols easier/harder to remember than others? Why? 

• How did you remember where each feature was hidden? (Not applicable with "Map Matching" variation) 

• If you used a map, did you notice any connections between the checkpoints and the cones other than the matching features?

Notes:

This works best if the features on each cone are also placed on that feature in real life. For example, if there is a cone with a tree image on it, try to place that cone at a tree. Same with a hill, a trail junction, a boulder, and so on. For students who are struggling, try to have some map keys printed out that they can carry with them as they go.