NY Social Studies 1.5a

Social Studies1st GradeKey Idea 1.5

The Standard

Maps and map tools, such as legends and cardinal directions, can help us navigate from one place to the next, provide directions, or trace important routes.

New York State K–12 Social Studies Framework

Key Idea 1.5

The location and place of physical features and man-made structures can be described and interpreted by using symbols and geographic vocabulary.

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students use north, south, east, and west to describe where classroom objects are located. They create and follow simple maps with symbols, a legend, and routes.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can describe one object’s location using a cardinal direction. The student can draw a classroom map, make a clear legend, and trace a route between two places.
Common Misconceptions: Students may confuse left and right with fixed cardinal directions. They may draw objects as pictures instead of symbols, omit the legend, or describe a route without naming directions.
How to Assess It: Give students a simple classroom map. Ask them to trace a route from the door to the bookcase and write two direction steps.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Label classroom walls north, south, east, and west, then have students place object cards in locations named by a partner.
Ask students to explain how a new classmate could travel from the classroom door to the reading area.
Play a direction game where students move one square north, south, east, or west on a taped floor grid.
Study the school evacuation map, identify its symbols, and trace the class route from the classroom to the exit.

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