A map craft that also encourages imaginative play is to have students make map dioramas. Divide the class into groups of three to four students. Provide a large piece of poster board and crayons for each group. Have the children create a play map of a city, including roads, intersections and buildings. Supply small die-cast cars, small plastic animals and some fake trees for children to use to embellish their maps.
Use map-themed crafts to help first graders learn more about how to look at maps. Ask students to make up their own fictitious countries and create a map for the country. Provide crayons, colored pencils and markers to color the map. Ask them to include mountains, forests and bodies of water. The students should name their country and add a capital city.
Help students learn how to find specific things on a map through search and find activities. Create a map of a fictitious city. Include kid-friendly points of interest such as a toy store, fire station and ice cream shop. Include simple street names. Then create a list of places that the students must locate. For instance, ask the students to find the fire station and color it red or ask them to put an "X" through the intersection of Main and First street.
Another rewarding activity to help first graders learn about map reading and directions is to make a "treasure map." Hide a box full of stickers to act as the treasure. Create a map of the classroom with the features noted, such as windows and bookcases, and make an "X" marking the spot where the treasure is located. Add the directional words "north," "south," "east " and "west" on the map. Have students work as a group to find the treasure.