DESCRIPTORS Class Activities: *Geographic Concepts: *Map Skills: Preschool Education: Primary Education: Symbolism

This paper discusses four key concepts to help preschool and primary grade children develop the ability to read and understand maps. Examples of Student activities to develop each of the concepts are provided. The essential concepts are representation, symbolization, perspective, and scale. Representation is vital. Children must perceive that a map represents something else--a place. Block building provides an excellent opportunity for young children to develop an understanding of representation. By using non-thematic blocks, children can create with the blocks, the entity of their choice. Second, children need to know that a map is a symbol for a place that it uses other symbols such as colors for land and water and lines fcr roads and highways. Three activities to increase the understanding that a symbol represents a real or actual thing are "Lotto Match " in which children pair three dimensional items to tw