Exploring Maps

Lesson 1: Introduction to the World Atlas

Curriculum Context

This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh for Year 2 students, focusing on the Languages learning area, specifically oral language and comprehension skills. It supports learning objectives related to communicating ideas clearly, responding to visual texts, and acquiring vocabulary related to new concepts.

Achievement Objectives (New Zealand Curriculum Refresh - Languages, Year 2)

• Communicating Ideas and Information: Students give descriptions and recounts using specific details to actively engage listeners and participate in shared discussions.
• They describe familiar objects and events, using descriptive language and responding to visual prompts.
• Develop oral vocabulary by introducing new terms such as “atlas,” “map,” “globe,” and spatial concepts like “world,” “country,” and “continent.”
• Encourage curiosity about the world and geographical concepts through language exploration.

Competencies Developed

• Relating to others: Encouraging students to share what they know about maps in a small group of 4 pupils fosters communication and turn-taking.
• Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Engaging with pictures and physical atlases develops students' ability to interpret visual information and link it to language.
• Thinking: Making connections between their prior knowledge and new vocabulary about atlases and maps.

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Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

Class size: 4 students

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Lesson Plan Detail

Learning Intentions

• Students will learn what a world atlas is.
• Students will understand the purpose of an atlas as a collection of maps.
• Students will identify basic features of an atlas (e.g., pictures of countries, continents).
• Students will share their prior knowledge of maps and worlds, expressing ideas clearly.

Success Criteria

• Students can explain in their own words what an atlas is.
• Students can identify and name parts of the atlas (drawing on and pointing to pictures).
• Students participate in a group discussion sharing what they know or believe about maps.

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Resources

• A children’s world atlas or digital atlas visuals showing simple maps and pictures of the world.
• Large printed pictures of a globe, continents, simple country maps.
• Whiteboard/flipchart for recording key words.
• Puppets or props to stimulate conversation (optional).

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Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Details	NZ Curriculum Focus/Notes
5 mins	Engage – Activate Prior Knowledge	Show a globe or picture and ask: “What do you see?” “What do you know about maps or places in the world?” Encourage turn-taking and listening to peers.	Oral language development: Describing familiar objects and events; Relating to others through conversation
10 mins	Explore – Introduce World Atlas	Show the world atlas. Explain: "An atlas is a special book full of maps that show us all the countries and places in the world." Use visuals to point out features (maps, pictures).	Build new vocabulary: atlas, map, globe, world, country. Use explicit teaching of vocabulary at oral-language level
8 mins	Explain & Discuss	Ask each student “What do you see in this picture/map?” or “Can you show me a country/place you know?” Record words the students use on the board to reinforce vocabulary.	Encourage verbal reasoning and descriptive language. Use scaffolds such as sentence stems ("I see...", "This is a...") to support complex sentence use.
5 mins	Connect – Shared Reading and Storytelling	Read an atlas-related picture book or short story about exploring the world. Pause to ask questions and highlight map features.	Develop comprehension vocabulary and narrative language through interactive read-alouds.
2 mins	Reflect & Recap	In pairs, students share one new thing they learned about the atlas or maps. Conclude with the teacher summarising the key ideas.	Support narrative retelling and oral summarising skills. Create positive learner identity by recognising all students’ contributions.

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Assessment for Learning

• Observations: Teacher notes the students’ use of new vocabulary and ability to describe the atlas and maps.
• Oral Responses: Evaluate participation and clarity of explanations during discussion and sharing.
• Use of Visuals: Monitor ability to connect words with atlas images and maps.

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Differentiation & Inclusion

• Provide sentence starters or vocabulary cards for students who may need language support.
• Use visual and tactile props to enhance understanding.
• Encourage peer support and model turn-taking in conversations.
• For English language learners, provide explicit definitions and scaffolded questions.

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Extension Ideas for Next Lessons

• Explore different types of maps (country, city, world maps).
• Create a simple map of the classroom or local area.
• Learn basic directions (north, south, east, west) using map orientation.

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This lesson plan ensures alignment with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh's emphasis on oral language development, vocabulary acquisition, and comprehension within the Languages domain for Year 2. It is designed to be highly interactive and scaffolded, supporting young learners in culturally responsive and inclusive ways to build curiosity and knowledge about the world through language.