Maps and Globes
A 40-minute Kindergarten lesson on what a globe shows, what a map shows, and when to use each.
Maps and Globes is a free 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D2.Geo.3.K-2 — use maps and globes to spot what a place is like, naturally and culturally. 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.3.K-2
Kindergarten to Grade 2 · Geography
D2.Geo.3.K-2
Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.
Objective
Students will be able to choose a map or a globe for a given question and say why.
Students are successful when they can
- Says what a globe shows.
- Says what a local map shows.
- Chooses the right one for a question.
What you need
- A globe and a local street map
- Question cards
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — blue and green
5 min- Turn the globe. Ask what the blue is and what the green is.
- Ask which there is more of.
Teach — near questions and far questions
13 min- Ask 'where is our street?' and try to find it on the globe. You cannot.
- Find it on the local map at once.
- Ask 'where are the oceans?' and try the street map. You cannot.
- Say the rule: a globe is for the whole world, a map can zoom in.
- Show the key on the local map and read two symbols.
“The globe holds everything and shows nothing small. That is the trade.”
Guided practice — which one?
12 min- Pairs take eight questions and hold up map or globe.
- For each they say why.
- One question needs both.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the maps-and-globes page.
- Read each question aloud.
Close
2 min- Ask one question. Take map or globe and a reason.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Thinks a globe can show your street if you look hard.
Why: It shows the world, and the street is in the world.
Fix: Try it. The failure is immediate and settles it.
Ignores the key.
Why: It is small and off to one side.
Fix: Read two symbols before using the map. The key is part of the map, not a footnote.
Thinks the world is flat because the map is.
Why: The map is the more familiar object.
Fix: Hold the globe beside the map. The map is a flattened picture of a round thing.
If they are not there yet
- Four questions rather than eight.
- Give the answer and collect the reason.
If they finish early
- Find the same place on both.
- Say what a map of the school would need.
- Say what gets lost when a globe is flattened.
Exit ticket
You want to find your street. Map or globe? Why?
What to look for: A map, because it zooms in. A globe means the try-it-and-fail demonstration needs repeating.
Printable practice for D2.Geo.3.K-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Maps and GlobesCircle the best answer.
Questions about Maps and Globes
How long does the Maps and Globes 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 Maps and Globes teach?
D2.Geo.3.K-2 — D2.Geo.3.K-2, Geography for Kindergarten to Grade 2: “Use maps, globes, and other simple geographic models to identify cultural and environmental characteristics of places.” In plain terms, use maps and globes to spot what a place is like, naturally and culturally.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A globe and a local street map, question cards 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: thinks a globe can show your street if you look hard; ignores the key and thinks the world is flat because the map is. 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: “You want to find your street. Map or globe? Why?.” A map, because it zooms in. A globe means the try-it-and-fail 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 Maps and Globes?
Yes — 1 printable D2.Geo.3.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 Maps and Globes 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.3.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.