What it shows
A map can show the way with landmarks and symbols. Children learn directions such as left, right, near and far.
The science
A landmark is something easy to see, like a temple, a shop or a big tree, that helps us find our way. A map shows landmarks in the order we pass them and uses symbols. We describe the way with left, right, straight, near and far.
Materials
Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- A big sheet of paper or chart paper
- Pencils and crayons
- A ruler
- Small stickers or drawn symbols
- A parent to walk with you
Safety
For this project: An adult must walk with you and help cross roads. Draw only after you reach home.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesStep by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
Walk the way to school with an adult and notice five landmarks.
Write the landmarks in order in a notebook.
Draw your house at one corner of the paper and your school at the other.
Draw the road between them with a thick line.
Put the landmarks in order along the road with small drawings or symbols.
Mark the places where you turn left or right with arrows.
Add a key, and a compass sign showing north.
Tell a friend the way using your map.
What you should see
A picture map with a path, landmarks, arrows and a key, which someone can follow to reach your school.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1What is a landmark?
A thing easy to see that helps us find the way.
2What do the arrows show?
The direction to turn.
3What does the compass sign show?
The north direction.
4Why look both ways on a road?
To stay safe from vehicles.
Take it further
Time the walk and mark the time between each landmark.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
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