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Using practical resources to build early mapping skills
This Geography video supports teachers in helping Key stage 1 pupils understand how to represent a bird’s-eye view of a space using familiar classroom objects.
The children work in groups to create a ‘messy map’, a 3D representation of the classroom using items such as counters, rulers or beanbags. This activity introduces the concept of symbols in map work. To build geographical language, the pupils use directional vocabulary to discuss the location and distance between objects.
Once complete, the messy maps can be photographed and shared on the board to reinforce the idea of aerial perspective. Alternatively, the children can visit and explore other groups’ messy maps, explaining how their representations were created. As the pupils progress through the key stage, they move from collaborative practical maps to drawing outlines, incorporating 3D elements and applying symbolic representation. This lays the foundation for more complex map work.
This lesson is part of the Geography fieldwork and mapping videos, which support progression in spatial thinking, geographical vocabulary and collaborative fieldwork planning.
See more of our Year 1 and 2 Geography scheme of work.
