Drawing a Place You Know
A 40-minute Kindergarten lesson on making a simple map of a familiar place, seen from above.
Drawing a Place You Know is a free 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D2.Geo.1.K-2 — draw a map or chart of a place you know. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten to Grade 2
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- D2.Geo.1.K-2
Kindergarten to Grade 2 · Geography
D2.Geo.1.K-2
Construct maps, graphs, and other representations of familiar places.
Objective
Students will be able to draw a map of the classroom showing where three things are.
Students are successful when they can
- Draws from above, not from the side.
- Shows where things are in relation to each other.
- Labels or keys at least three things.
What you need
- A shoebox and small objects, to model the view from above
- Large paper
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — look down
5 min- Stand on a chair and look down at a table. Describe what you can see.
- Ask what you cannot see from up there. The fronts of things.
Teach — a map is the view from above
13 min- Put three objects in the shoebox. Draw them from the side.
- Now draw them from above. The shapes change.
- Say the rule: a map shows where things are, not what they look like from the front.
- Draw the door, the carpet and the window on a class map.
- Add a key with three symbols.
“From above, a table is just a rectangle. That is what a map draws.”
Guided practice — map the classroom
12 min- Pairs draw the classroom from above with three things on it.
- They swap maps and try to find the three things in the real room.
- A map that cannot be used is redrawn.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the making-a-map page.
- Read each question aloud.
Close
2 min- Hold up one map. The class names what is on it.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Draws the room from the side.
Why: That is how they see it and how they have always drawn.
Fix: The shoebox, drawn both ways. Seeing the two pictures side by side is what makes the difference visible.
Draws things in the wrong place relative to each other.
Why: The objects are drawn one at a time, each starting fresh.
Fix: Ask which is nearer the door. Position is what a map is for.
Draws beautifully and unusably.
Why: Drawing well is what has been praised.
Fix: Swap maps and use them. A map is a tool, and the test is whether somebody else can follow it.
If they are not there yet
- Map one corner rather than the room.
- Give an outline with the walls drawn.
If they finish early
- Add a key with symbols.
- Map the route from the door to the carpet.
- Map somewhere the class cannot see from here.
Exit ticket
Draw the classroom from above. Show the door and two other things.
What to look for: A view from above with things in the right places. A side view means the shoebox demonstration needs repeating.
Printable practice for D2.Geo.1.K-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Making a MapCircle the best answer.
Questions about Drawing a Place You Know
How long does the Drawing a Place You Know lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Drawing a Place You Know teach?
D2.Geo.1.K-2 — D2.Geo.1.K-2, Geography for Kindergarten to Grade 2: “Construct maps, graphs, and other representations of familiar places.” In plain terms, draw a map or chart of a place you know.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A shoebox and small objects, to model the view from above, large paper and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: draws the room from the side; draws things in the wrong place relative to each other and draws beautifully and unusably. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Draw the classroom from above. Show the door and two other things.” A view from above with things in the right places. A side view means the shoebox demonstration needs repeating. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Drawing a Place You Know?
Yes — 1 printable D2.Geo.1.K-2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Drawing a Place You Know free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to D2.Geo.1.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.