Ask the students if their parents ever used a map to find out where to go on a family trip or how to find the lions in the zoo. Tell them maps are tools that give directions to somewhere or show important information. Show the students a variety of maps and explain what they are for, such a map of their city or state, the United States or a map of the population. Show the students the globe and explain it is a round map. Point out their city, state and the U.S. on the globe, and tell them they need special words that identify directions. Point in the correct direction on the globe as you say the words North, South, East and West. Explain the purpose of the compass rose and have students point in the direction you tell them to on the globe or map.
Show the students a simple map from the school to a nearby location they might like to go to, such as a park or ice cream parlor. Point out the map key, or legend, and ask students to come to the map to point out various locations on the map, such as lakes or hospitals. Ask the students if they can tell you where two locations are in relation to each other using cardinal directions, such as "the lake is north of the school." Ask a student to point out the school and use your finger or pointer to trace the route as you verbally describe the way to get to the fun location using cardinal and other direction words. If possible, arrange a class trip to walk to this location, giving each student her own map. Talk the class through the route as you go, and as you return.
Label the four walls of the classroom with the correct cardinal directions. Periodically throughout the year, ask the students to stand and point in the direction you name. This makes a good change of pace when you notice the students are restless or bored. Whenever you ask a student to go somewhere or get something in the classroom, use cardinal directions. Use a mnemonic device to memorize the cardinal directions of the compass rose, such as "Never Eat Soggy Waffles," or challenge them to come up with one of their own.
Use maps and cardinal directions in other subjects throughout the year. If you read a book that takes place in a particular location, show the students where to find it on the map. Ask students to make a map of their bedrooms or another room in their house, and label a compass rose with the correct orientation. Make treasure maps using cardinal directions that lead to a prize. Regularly use map worksheets and encourage students to say the cardinal directions aloud as they find locations on the maps.