Grade 3 Fall History - Local History and Landmarks: The Stories of THIS Place
Lesson 14 50 min hist.g3.f.lesson_14

Map Skills - Grid References and the Treasure Hunt

Skills targeted
Objectives
  • Students apply 4-figure grid references to locate places.
  • Students extend to 6-figure grid references (stretch toward KS2 Year-4).
Vocabulary
gridgrid referencerowcolumn4-figure6-figure

Lesson plan

Warm-up

5 min

Read MG-11 mnemonic together: 'Read ACROSS first, then UP.'

Teacher moves
  • Set mnemonic
  • Affirm convention

Direct instruction

12 min

Today we add a powerful tool: GRID REFERENCES. A grid is a system of letters across and numbers up. To name a place, we read ACROSS first (letter), then UP (number). The SWING is at B3. The SLIDE is at E5. With grids, we can find any place. Today we extend to 6-figure grids for stretch students - 3 digits across + 3 digits up.

Key examples
  • Across first, then up.
    model Read across to G, then up to 7. The garden is at G7.
    prompt Where is the garden on MG-11?
Checks for understanding
  • What does grid reference G7 mean?
  • Which direction do we read first?
Sourcework
Source type
MG-11 + school-yard map with grid
Routine
GRID-CALL
Media
M-3-F-GEO-14-A Chart
MG-11 reproduction at 24x24 laminated grid chart. 10x10 grid overlaid on stylized school-yard map. Horizontal axis A-J.

MG-11 reproduction at 24x24 laminated grid chart. 10x10 grid overlaid on stylized school-yard map. Horizontal axis A-J. Vertical axis 1-10. 5 features placed: SWING B3, SLIDE E5, GARDEN G7, BENCH D2, FLAG POLE F9. Sub-grid example for 6-figure: feature at 645,378. Header 'GRID REFERENCES.' Footer mnemonic: 'Read ACROSS first. Then read UP.'

MG-11 Chart
Mounted on classroom wall at child-eye-height. Used in lesson 14 for the school-yard treasure-hunt routine. The 4-figure

Mounted on classroom wall at child-eye-height. Used in lesson 14 for the school-yard treasure-hunt routine. The 4-figure grid (letters + numbers) is the G3 expectation; the 6-figure grid is the stretch move toward KS2 Year-4. The 'read across first, then up' mnemonic is the universal cartographic convention.

Guided practice

18 min
Tasks
  • School-yard treasure hunt: find 5 treasures using 4-figure grid clues.
  • Stretch: use 6-figure grid for 2 more treasures.
Media
M-3-F-GEO-14-B Map
11x17 print of school-yard map with grid overlay (4-figure default; 6-figure option marked at corner). 10 clue-card icon

11x17 print of school-yard map with grid overlay (4-figure default; 6-figure option marked at corner). 10 clue-card icons spaced around the yard with grid coordinates printed (e.g., 'Find the small wooden box at C4.'). The clue cards are physical 3x5 cards distributed to children pairs.

Formative assessment

4 min
Exit ticket
  • State the grid reference for 3 features on the school-yard map.
scoring All 3 correct = mastery

Closure

3 min
Moves
  • Add 'grid', 'grid reference' to Word Wall
  • Preview: tomorrow nested scales

Homework

8 min
Tasks
  • Create a small grid map of your bedroom or kitchen. Mark 3 features and give their grid references.

Exercises in this lesson

hist.g3.f.geo.grid_references.ex_01
On MG-11 grid chart, state the 4-figure grid reference for: (1) the swing; (2) the slide; (3) the garden; (4) the bench; (5) the flag pole.
 grid call · diff 2

Differentiation

Scaffolds
  • Larger grid
  • Color-coded coordinates
Extensions
  • Design a treasure-hunt clue for a classmate using 6-figure grid
English Learners
  • Bilingual grid-vocabulary cards
Ieps 504s
  • Wheelchair-accessible treasure route
  • Verbal grid-call instead of physical search

Teacher notes

PROTOCOL: the treasure hunt should be SHORT (15 min outdoor). Pre-hide treasures (small wooden disks, ribbons, or paper tokens). The 4-figure grid is the G3 expectation; the 6-figure grid is the stretch move toward KS2 Year-4. Weather-alternative: use the classroom floor as the grid.