I’ve been wanting to have a me on the map unit for a few years now. I finally prepared one! It’s such a fun way for young children to identify their place in the world. You’ll also find a new Montessori-inspired me on the map pack for our newsletter subscribers’ resource library!
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Montessori Shelves with Me on the Map Themed Activities
Music from Mega Music Monkey
Montessori Shelves with Me on the Map Themed Activities
You’ll find Montessori-inspired me on the map numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Note: The Montessori-inspired me on the map pack isn’t designed as a complete me on the map unit but as supplemental materials. I design the packs using realistic images that I’ve often looked for when preparing a unit study (such as font cards and phonogram cards featuring the letter and phonogram related to the theme and math cards with realistic images that fit the theme and can be adapted for math activities at a variety of levels.)
You could mix your me on the map themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special me on the map themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves at the beginning of our unit have a mixture of skill levels. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. Many of these are designed for early elementary as well as preschoolers. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.
Montessori Book Basket and Shelves with Me on the Map Themed Activities
Even though I have books on shelves, I keep many books for our current theme in a book basket by the themed shelf. You’ll find a few of the books I’ve used here. For toddlers and preschoolers, at least ¾ of the books I use are Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).
Notice the framed world map by Dutch cartographer Henricus Hondius. It was painted in 1630 and shows the baroque style as well as the limited view of the world in 1630. It’s a free download from Flickr.
For our monthly featured art print, I purchased a Li’l DAVINCI art frame that opens in the front for easily changing a free art masterpiece printable or vintage illustration to fit with the month’s theme. The frame can be switched from horizontal to vertical without changing the hanger, which is perfect!
If you’re wondering about the rugs and rug box I use, both the rugs and wooden rug holder are from Montessori Services. I love the Montessori Services rugs and rug holder! I used to use an umbrella stand something like these. I loved that for 1-3 rugs, but I needed something different when I had more grandchildren and some projects that needed more than one rug.
Favorite Shelves, Trays, Baskets, and More for Montessori Homeschoolers
I often get asked about the trays, baskets, etc., that I use, so I published a post with many of the items. You can find lots of helpful resources here. They’re not all essential, so don’t feel you need to have everything. Just choose what’s best for your budget and your unique family’s needs. You’ll find more ideas in the Living Montessori Now Amazon shop
Me on the Map Book with Me on the Map Activity
Me on the Map Book with Me on the Map Activity
Me on the Map is pretty essential for a me on the map unit! It’s a fun book!
Free Printable: Me on the Map Pages by Kim Looper at Teachers Pay Teachers. There are so many free me on the map printables at Teachers that you might want to spend some time finding the best printable for your needs.
Free Printable: Me on the Map California by Kathryn Sullivan at Teachers Pay Teachers. I even found a Me on the Map California printable featuring the city of San Diego! So be sure to check that your area isn’t part of a free printable. Either way, the printables are easily personalized.
On the top shelf in the Montessori shelf photo, you’ll also see book Where DO I Live? It has more details than Me on the Map, so it’s good for a child who’s a bit older.
Usborne Children’s Picture Atlas Book with Personalized My Place in Space Booklet and Other Geography Materials
Usborne Children’s Picture Atlas Book with Personalized My Place in Space Booklet and Other Geography Materials
The open book is the Usborne Children’s Picture Atlas. It was published in 2003, but it’s very inviting with lots of still-relevant information.
Free Printable: My Cosmic Address Me on the Map Activity by I Believe in Montessori at Teachers Pay Teachers. I’ve especially had fun with this editable printable by Katherine from I Believe in Montessori! I used the universe photo and edited a blank card to make My Place in Space cover for my 3-year-old grandkids. For Zoey, who’s 7, I made a “My Cosmic Address” cover. Zoey can draw her own images, but I’ll probably use photographs for the editable pages for Sophia and Caleb, who are both 3. The booklet includes the Universe, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Solar System, the Planet Earth, my continent (there are pages for each continent), my country, my region, my state, my city, my street, my school, and my house. You can edit it to include whatever names you want!
Because my grandkids love booklets, I’m making the cards into a booklet for each child.
G for Globe Sand Writing Tray with Me on the Map Movable Alphabet Spelling
G for Globe Sand Writing Tray with Me on the Map Movable Alphabet Spelling
Free Printables: globe letter “g” and “o_e” globe phonogram for sand writing tray (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
You’ll see a variety of simple letter writing trays in my previous unit study posts. I often used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though.
The sandpaper letters I use are available in print or cursive.
I typically now use this lovely spelling/alphabet tray from FamilyTreeWW on Etsy. I like it for writing more than one letter or spelling words.
If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers.
My Place in Space Activity with Solar System and Planet Earth
My Place in Space Activity with Solar System and Planet Earth
Free Printable: “ear” earth phonogram (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
Free Printable: Planet Earth alphabet cards in print and cursive (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
Free Printable: Solar System Chart from Math Worksheets 4 Kids
Free Printable: My Cosmic Address Me on the Map Activity by I Believe in Montessori at Teachers Pay Teachers
This activity is a fun way to review the solar system and focus on “my place in space.” You’ll see two of the books from our previous solar system unit here. Planets is a National Geographic reader. Like their other readers, the book is wonderful for beginning readers as well as younger preschoolers. The open book is The Usborne Big Book of Stars and Planets is a Montessori-friendly book with a big fold-out display (shown) in the center. It’s available through Amazon or Book Depository and is recommended for ages 4 and up.
I used the Safari Ltd Safariology Solar System sun and planets. Mine were from the Montessori By Mom Space Explorer Toolbox, although the Safari Ltd. planets are available on Amazon as well. I love that they fit perfectly on the solar system chart. I just printed it out and cut out the main part for the activity! I added a tiny piece of plastic adhesive to the bottom of each planet so the planets would stay in place on the printable. There are lots of felt solar systems and tutorials for making a felt solar system if you’d prefer. They’re lovely, but this is definitely easy! My 3-year-old grandson saw it already and loved it!
DIY World Map and Compass Cards and Counters
Free Printable: World map numbers 1-10 and 55 compass counters (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Note: The printable circles are designed for wood slices 1.5″ in diameter. I printed mine out at 67% to fit better on my tray with 1″ wood slices and with the math cards. Either way is fine, although I definitely like the 1″ compasses for a cards and counter activity!
Note: I don’t show this activity on the shelf because I’ll rotate it with the greater than, less than activity.
World Map and Compass Greater Than, Less Than Activity
World Map and Compass Greater Than, Less Than Activity
Free Printable: World map numbers 1-10 and 19 compass counters (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Note: The printable circles are designed for wood slices 1.5″ in diameter. I printed mine out at 67% to fit better on my tray with 1″ wood slices and with the math cards. Either way is fine, although I definitely like the 1″ compasses for a cards and counter activity!
This activity uses the same printables except that only 19 compass counters are needed if you use combinations of the numbers from 1-10. The wood sorting board for the bead stair that you’ll see in the tray on my shelf is from Etsy, but it’s not available right now. Typically, I just have the bead bars I’m using from our decanomial box in a little cup or other small container.
The bead bars aren’t necessary for this activity, but using them is simply another way to focus on counting with the bead bars. Check out my greater than, less than alligator math posts for fun ways to introduce greater than, less than.
More Activities with Purchased Materials for Our Me on the Map Unit
Montessori Globe, Puzzle Map, and Punch Materials with Geography Books
You’ll see these books and materials in my earlier photo of the open book on the stand. They include traditional Montessori materials of the continents globe, world continents puzzle map, and punch activity using the North America continent for tracing. The books are the National Geographic Kids My First Atlas of the World with many beautiful photos. Maps is a fabulous book for many ages with its huge maps and gorgeous illustrations.
As much as I love the traditional Montessori world puzzle map and the individual continent puzzle maps, they’re too large and expensive for my home environment. I was lucky to find a small version of the Montessori world puzzle map by Amazing Child Montessori on Amazon. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available. But I’ve found a number of puzzle maps that work very well for homeschools and home environments in general. Here are a few.
Teach My – Toys Teach My Continents and Animals has been very popular with my younger grandkids. I love that it focuses on animals of each continent, includes animal cards and a small book, and uses the Montessori colors for the continents … all for a very reasonable price!
We also love this Continents Felt Map with Wooden Labels from SparkandGrove on Etsy. There are lots of Montessori world maps on Etsy, making it easy to find one that’s perfect for almost any home environment.
A favorite world map with countries has been this large floor puzzle: Educational Insights World Foam Map Puzzle. We’ve used it with a variety of animal figures and Montessori card materials.
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As part of a Me on the Map unit, I like to focus on gratitude for our Planet Earth. This is an activity I’ve had in our peace/mindfulness area with the Thank You, Earth book, an LED candle (a color-changing one for extra interest), and a sand timer.
Free Me on the Map Printables
Montessori-Inspired Me on the Map Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Me on the Map Resources
- “All About Me” Free Printables and Activities for Back to School
- DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Compass Rose Activities and Outdoor Compass Walks
- DIY Montessori Globes
- Land, Water, Air Activities from Montessori By Mom
- Montessori Land, Air, and Water Activities
- Continent Map Work
- Montessori Continent Boxes
- Creative Ideas for Montessori Continent Boxes from Around the World
- Montessori Continent Activities for North America (or Applied to Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – North America
- Montessori Activities for South America (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – South America
- Montessori Activities for Europe (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Europe)
- Montessori-Inspired Study of Africa
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities Using Replicas – Africa
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Asia
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Activities – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Global Adventure (This post contains Montessori-inspired activities for many individual countries using Little Passports packages and resources found online.)
- Earth Exploration Activities from Montessori By Mom (includes a variety of geography activities)
- Montessori-Inspired Map Activities Using Pin It! Maps
If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout August and September, see my August Themed Activities for Kids and September Themed Activities for Kids.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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