Children identify with the world differently as they develop, which is reflected in the kinds of maps they make. Sobel has identifed four stages that children pass through. Understanding these stages can help us choose appropriate activities and integrate mapping effectively into the curriculum. No Place Like Home. At this age, a child's world is centered on their own back yard.
Maps show favorite shrubs, the sandbox where castles are made, and the climbing tree.
These maps often look like pictures. There is very little exploration around the edges of students' perspective, or even an understanding of what it means to map something. In this stage, children are more interested in exploring the outer limits or edges of their perspective. Maps move beyond the family domain and begin to show a child's special places. Pieces of roads appear, along with shortcuts to friends' houses.