Treasure Map and Chest
Goals: To have kids think about what they treasure and the obstacles they are willing to overcome to reach this treasure. Have children reach this goal by using sequential thinking, directional skills, and displaying emotional intelligence.
Materials: Long construction paper, pencils, colored pencils, markers, crayons, square-shaped construction paper
Demo/Prep:
- Make a treasure map on construction paper with a start, at least three landmarks, dashes along the page (to represent “paces”) and a capital X for “X marks the spot.”
- Have a compass rose in a corner of the map
- Make an origami box for the treasure chest. Start with a square piece of paper. The best way to follow this is to go onto google images and follow their steps with the pictures.
- Have square shaped paper cut and ready to distribute to class.
Steps:
- Introduce the idea of treasure. What do you treasure? What obstacles are you willing to overcome to get to that treasure? Ask what goes into building a map. Ask what helps when giving directions and introduce the ideas of landmarks.
- Show the demo treasure map and hand out the small square pieces used for the treasure chests. Pull up an image of the directions for an origami box for the class to have on screen as you walk them through this step.
- Guide the class through making an origami box for their treasure chests by explaining one step at a time, not moving on to the next step until everyone is finished. If there are kids who still need extra time/help give it to them and encourage kids who finished sooner to decorate their treasure chests while others finish.
- Once everyone has their treasure chests finished, show the demo map. Point out the designated landmarks, the dashes used to get around, and the finish. Have kids begin to think of a theme for their map. Where are they? Are they in the mountains? On a beach? In a kingdom? Outer space? Then, have them think of landmarks that relate to this location.
- Hand out construction paper, markers, pencils, colored pencils, and crayons.
- Give the class time to create their map. Encourage them to continue to add detail.