OBJECTIVES:

• Exploring north and south on a map.
• Comparing geographic locations.

VOCABULARY:

• geography
• map
• north
• south

MATERIALS:

• worksheet
• crayons
• World Placemats
• U.S. Placemats
• bingo chips

Students identify places on a world and U.S. map.

BACKGROUND:

It takes students time to learn geographic locations around the world. Just one exposure to a location does not guarantee that a student will remember it forever. Familiarity, with a globe and maps allows students to visualize and keep locations in mind.

PROCEDURE:

1. Give the students the World and United States placemats. Make sure students recognize that the U.S. map is an enlarged portion of the world placemat.

   Have the students locate different geographic locations. As you name each location, say a little about the area. As the students find each location, have them put a "bingo chip" on the area. If you have students from another country, locate those areas.

   Here are some examples:

   1. Find Egypt. This is the area where the Egyptians made pyramids from large rocks many, many years ago.
   2. Find Hawaii. This is a state of the United States. It is found in the Pacific Ocean.
   3. Find Mexico. This country is located in the southern portion of North America.
        
2. Have the students color the worksheet. Have them locate South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on the world placemat.

   You may want to tell students that most maps are made such that the North direction is always up and South is always down. East would then be on the right and West would be on the left. The North direction is often indicated by a labeled arrow somewhere on the map.

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