Build a City: Mapping Skills Activity

Hi, Teacher Friends! I hope your school year is off to a great start! We have been in person the last three weeks, and it has been wonderful. Yes, things are different with trying to keep 6-year-olds socially distanced and wearing masks, but they have been rockstars, and it has been fantastic to be back doing what I love!

I usually like to do lots of hands-on centers throughout the day so that kids can collaborate and learn all the important social skills that come with working in a group, as well as apply content in a more age-appropriate way. That has been more of a challenge this year, for sure! I have been trying to get creative with individual centers that don't involve a screen, but one day a week we have digital Boom centers. 

I try to balance it so the kids don't get too much screen time, but they also get to use technology enough to become proficient in it. I typically start digital centers a little later in the year, but considering we may have to go remote at a moment's notice, I want my kids to learn all of our online platforms while I'm there in person to give support.

The kids love Boom cards--they are always asking to play "those games"--and I love that they give the kids immediate feedback and that I can see data on how they did. It is quick and easy to assign different decks to each kid, so, during reading, for example, I have some kids working on basic sight words while others are working on blends and other skills.

This particular deck focuses on mapping skills, which is one of our first grade standards. Working with cardinal directions can be tricky for 6- and 7-year olds, so I love the immediate feedback they get with this Boom deck! There are few things as damaging to a child's understanding as practicing something the wrong way.

This deck focuses on the directions north, south, east, and west, as kids take on the role of helping design a new city. It makes a no-prep and engaging way for your students to practice their mapping skills, and works just as well in-person as it does with remote learning.

Find "Build a City" here in my TPT store or here on Boom Learning.

Keep teaching with heart and passion!