Activity: what is the shape of a home?

tinybop-activity-shape-of-a-home-hero

Make a map of your house in this printable activity. Kids investigate a floor plan of the row house in Homes and then draw a map of their own home.

In his book, Mapmaking with Children: Sense of Place Education for the Elementary Years, David Sobel explores how mapmaking supports children’s understanding of the world: maps help them develop geographic and mathematical skills and construct a sense of place. He suggests that mapmaking should begin with children’s known worlds — their homes and their communities.

Download this activity to introduce kids to mapping their homes: making floor plans. Using the American row house in Homes as an example, investigate how a floor plan works. Then map your own home!

You can continue exploring more mapmaking activities within your neighborhood and local community. Is your house located in an urban, suburban, or rural area? What important features surround your house? How does the setting of your house compare to the other houses in Homes?

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Share your kids’ discoveries on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and use the hashtag #tinybop — we love seeing what you’re up to.

Download a free Homes Handbook for further learning in the third app from the Explorer’s Library, Homes.

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Homes activity #2
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