Early Math  /  Spatial Thinking  /  Digital  /  Activity

Intro to Map Adventures: City Map

 

Spatial Thinking
Digital

Introduce the City Map game in the Map Adventures app to support children in navigating maps.

A man models playing city map game in the Gracie & Friends “Map Adventures” preschool spatial thinking app.

Demonstrate how to navigate the city map — but watch out for roadblocks!

 

Materials

An iPad screen of the “Map Adventures” spatial thinking preschool app showing the cartoon character Gracie next to a cow.
  • Map Adventures digital game on the iPad

Preparation

  1. Make sure the iPads are charged and Map Adventures is installed.
  2. Play the app yourself so that you feel comfortable demonstrating it to children.
  3. Note: You’ll introduce the app and how to play during Circle Time. Children will then play Map Adventures: City Map in pairs during Learning Center time.
 

Directions

  1. Tell children they are going to play a new game with a friend in the Map Adventures app called City Map.
  2. Hold up the iPad and demonstrate how to play.
    • Playing the City Map game. On the next screen, tap on the city map. Explain that they will be driving along the city streets to reach a destination in the city. Encourage them to plan their route so that they don’t run into any roadblocks. But if they do, find a different route to reach the landmark.
  3. Finish by telling them that everyone will get a chance to play Map Adventures: City Map during Learning Center time.
Length of Play

10 min.

Group Size

Whole Class

In the Schedule

Circle Time

 
Vocabulary
  • map
  • landmark
  • route
  • roadblock
 
Learning Goals
  • Use maps and diagrams to plan, describe, or follow paths or routes from one location to another
  • Develop an initial idea that maps, diagrams, and models can be representations of real-world spaces