Nature STEM Challenge – Map the Backyard

Let’s head to the backyard for a nature STEM challenge. After reading Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberth, we were inspired to map the backyard.
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Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberth

We fell in love with Mapping Sam as soon as we checked it out from the library. Sam is a cat who likes to go out exploring after her family has gone to bed. Follow Sam through her adventures and learn about different types of maps along the way. My kids loved tracing the path Sam took to get from here to there. Full of circles and curves, you can imagine just what the cat was doing.

In addition to maps of Sam’s journey through the neighborhood, we’re also introduced to diagrams of flower parts, a pond, a water molecule, a map of the Earth, a diagram of space, a constellation chart, and a blueprint of a building.

Nature STEM Challenge – Map the Backyard

Inspired by Mapping Sam , I challenged my kids to make a map of the backyard. Aiden (age 9) asked if he could bury some treasure and draw a map to it. Of course the answer was yes!

He drew the perimeter of the backyard and added some landmarks for reference.

Then, he drew a line to mark the path to the treasure. This reminded me of Sam’s serpentine path in the book. She didn’t take a direct route to where she was going and neither did Aiden.

Aiden handed his map off to Elon (he’s almost 3). Aiden had to explain his map to his little brother and showed him where to begin on the steps by the back door.

They followed the map to the compost pile and then to the back fence. Next they found an orange bucket and then a pink bucket.

The next landmark was the turtle sandbox. Elon might have been most excited to recognize this one.

Finally, they headed to the corner of the yard where the treasure was buried.

STEM Skills and Map Making

Creating and using maps can involve a lot of STEM skills. The map itself is a piece of technology. It is a tool being used. Map making requires observation skills and paying attention to details.

Working with maps promotes spatial thinking. Identify landmarks and features on the map. Maps help us understand that symbols represent things. Using maps practices relative distances – understanding concepts like near, far, and next to.

You can even count how many steps are between the landmarks on your path. Add a label of “walk 10 paces” to add to the fun. Making a map to scale requires accurate measurement.

More Map Making Activities for Kids

• Use LEGO to make a map of Mr. McGregor’s garden.
• An Easter egg hunt with a map is a great way to introduce map reading to kids.
• Teach map reading at the playground and learn that X marks the spot.
• Map your backyard habitat with this activity from Rainy Day Mum.
• Help Little Red Riding Hood get to Grandma’s house faster than the wolf using this map reading activity from Science Sparks.
• Try these simple mapping activities for kids from Gift of Curiosity
• Go on a plot graph scavenger hunt. Edventures with Kids shows us how to make a map of the playground using a plot graph.

Storybook Science

The first week of our Storybook Science series features STEM challenges. Follow along with the rest of our Storybook Science here. Bloggers will be sharing a new science idea inspired by a children’s book throughout the month of March.