The dog days of Summer are fading fast, and yet, the weatherpeople say it may be a warm September. Don't get out your corduroys yet! We may be back to work soon, but summer doesn't have to be over as soon as you enter the classroom. May I make a suggestion for September? Lesson One: Enjoy the sunshine and the green gorgeousness of September with your class on a walking tour of your area (I am sure some of you have already done this). Point out different places and things, your students will ask plenty of questions and will learn a few things about the local area and learn a few new words.
Go back to class and map out your route on a transit map (I use the old and now extinct Milton Transit Map 2015) or find one online and have your students draw a map and label it based on what they just experienced and the online/paper map they are viewing. Compare and discuss, laugh and learn.
Lesson Two: I follow-up this lesson with another mapping challenge the next day/week - I write places on the board for them to locate on the map (their home, children's school, their neighbourhood park, the hospital, nearest fire station, their favourite restaurant, The Centre etc ) with a partner. Then they switch partners. It's a way to get the map in their heads but also a way to talk about their neighbourhood with a fellow student to get to know them better. They then place a marker on a class map on the wall to show where they are located in Milton.
Lesson Three: The following day/week I have the students review asking for and giving directions. Then, for practice, I have them go back to the maps, and as they re-orient themselves with the map I write a list of local trips on the board such as: Home to The Centre, Home to the Library, The Centre to your Grocery store etc. With partners they have to take turns asking for and giving directions , the partner that asked is trying to follow the directions on the map with their finger. It's a challenge for both to give and follow directions and ends up all over the map so to speak. (haha)
Then have them change partners and come up with their own direction questions and practice again but this time outside on the sidewalk. I ask a volunteer to orient the class (east/west/north/south, where's the hospital, where's downtown etc) first, then with their partners practice asking for and giving directions, using (polite) hand gestures to point in the right direction. I go around and listen and offer suggestions if needed.
I like to challenge students to know where they are in their new home town and be able to gradually get the map of Milton in their heads with some practice in giving directions. This is also a way to get off your chair, sneak outside and get some Vitamin D before we wave the delicious dog days of summer goodbye, Enjoy!