How to teach kids map reading and compass

Описание: Teaching young kids to read maps isn’t about strict lessons—it’s about making it fun, engaging, and suited to each child’s learning style. My first rule: don’t just teach a lesson, teach the child.

A great way to start is by drawing a simple map of a familiar room. This introduces key concepts like spatial awareness and the meaning of colours on a map. From there, we take it outside with the Nine-Tree Forest game—a hands-on way to teach direction, mapping, and navigation through play.
The game involves setting up nine objects in a 3x3 grid, labelling directions (North, South, East, West), and guiding kids to follow routes using simple maps. As they progress, we introduce real maps, starting with small, easy-to-read sections of familiar areas.

Later, we can add a compass, keeping it fun and practical. Teaching them to set bearings and move toward specific points builds confidence in navigation.

There are countless ways to teach map reading, but the key is to make it enjoyable and give kids plenty of time to absorb the skills. If you’ve used other techniques, drop a comment—I’d love to hear your ideas!






















#MapReading #KidsLearning #Navigation

00:00 Intro
01:38 How children learn – they have plenty of time
03:37 Make it fun – get outside – start with something familiar
06:02 Introduction to the Nine Tree Forest (Nine Tree Wood)
07:56 How to use the Nine Tree Forest
09:51 Extending the Nine Tree Forest
11:41 Introduce real maps
13:22 Progressing on from the Nine Tree Forest
15:06 Getting out and following a map
16:31 How to teach a child to use a compass
20:42 Put it all together