How to Teach Map Features Virtually to Your Kids

Teaching map features is a highlight every time my class dives into geography. In this post, I’ll show you how to teach map features with digital activities. These are perfect for distance learning or a social studies center.

Map Features digital activities on an iPad

How to Teach Map Features Virtually to Your Kids

Map features and parts of a map are fun topics to discuss with little kids. Getting to pretend to go on treasure hunts, find hidden maps, and seek out adventures always springs to mind when I think of reading maps. With a little bit of patience, you can take a traditional hands-on activity and turn it into a digital masterpiece with the help of these Google Slides. I took my original Map Features Worksheets and Activities pack and turned it into a fun digital resource that is perfect for at-home (or in-person) learning.

Make Maps Come to Life with Videos

Not every activity has to be complicated. Hi, there Youtube. I see you. Here is a great video that does a good job of introducing maps to kids and teaching map features.

Introduce Map Features with Digital Slides

I like to start our class discussion by showing students a digital nonfiction reader or a PowerPoint Slide. See the Map Features Digital Slides I use or create your own by using PowerPoint or Keynote. I uploaded mine to Google Slides so that I can send it home to my students as homework or a distance learning activity.

Read About Map Features: Comprehension Pages

Another great activity to teach map features are comprehension passages. I like using these to have students gather notes and learn about the different features and why they are important.

Map Features comprehension questions on an iPad

The one that I use is from my Maps Features Digital Slides Pack. Once the students have read about maps, they can take notes or answer the questions by typing in the text boxes.

Compare Maps around the house

Looking at maps and studying the different parts can help students understand why each feature is important on a map. For students to properly use a map, they must be able to read it. Once my class has learned about each feature, I like to show them real-life examples.

In class, we compare and contrast different maps by looking at their features. I like to place 4-5 maps around the room and have groups of students fill out recording sheets with the features and characteristics of the different maps. Once they have gathered all of their information, we sit down and talk about what they noticed. Students come to the conclusion that even tho a map may be showing a different place, they all still have the same features.

To make this activity virtual, I created easy to use templates that students can complete on a computer or tablet at home.

Around the Town and Maps With Grids

Google Slides has been one of my favorite tools for a while now. I love having an area in my room where students can grab an iPad and work independently. Second and third-grade students need to learn how to answer questions about a map by “reading” it. I like to provide as many map “worksheets” as I can. These make great morning work, early finisher, or homework activities where students can practice answering questions about different maps.

In my Maps Features Digital Slides Pack, I added different maps, where students can answer questions by typing in the question boxes. A fun way to extend this is by having students find a map online and then writing questions for a friend to answer. This activity helps them analyze the map in a different way, which can make the same activity more engaging.

Write About a Hidden Map

Writing is another fun activity students can do virtually with minimal supplies. A fun writing activity is to have students pretend they find a hidden map in their attic and tell the reader where the map leads to. Think Goonies. You can also have students draw maps at home. They can hide small toys or items and then have a sibling or parent find the missing treasure. Drawing maps is an engaging way for students to build on their map skills.

More Map Feature Activities for Kids

As you build upon your students’ knowledge of maps, take one day at a time, and move slowly. Students will have fun reading and creating maps. Check out the paper version of these digital activities in my Map Features Worksheets and Activity pack. Or save by grabbing the digital and paper bundle HERE!