The Map Game
The Map Game turns geography knowledge already gained from puzzle maps and flag cards into a playful board activity, using printed cardboard pieces and plastic game markers to keep children moving, matching and thinking. Rather than teaching new material, it gives children a light, sociable way to revisit countries, capitals or flags they have already met in earlier presentations, reinforcing memory without repeating the same tray work. Suited to ages 3 to 6, it works well as a small group follow up activity, AMI aligned in spirit.
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
The Map Game addresses the young child's profound need to understand their place in the world through concrete, manipulable representations. Between ages 3-6, children absorb geographical concepts through sensorial exploration, and The Map Game provides tactile pieces that transform abstract continents and countries into graspable realities. This educational material honors the child's sensitive period for order by presenting geography systematically, first continents as whole forms, then countries as distinct shapes within those continents. The Map Game's interactive format allows children to construct their understanding of Earth's layout through repeated manipulation and matching activities. Unlike static atlases, The Map Game invites physical engagement where fingers trace boundaries, hands position pieces, and bodies move around the work space.
- Recognition of continent shapes and their relative positions on Earth
- Understanding of size relationships between different land masses
- Development of spatial reasoning through piece placement and orientation
- Vocabulary acquisition for geographical terms and location names
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Through this active exploration, children internalize spatial relationships between land masses while simultaneously developing fine motor control and visual discrimination skills essential for later academic work.
How to present it
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Place The Map Game on a large work mat or table. Organize continent pieces in a basket to the left, keeping any country pieces in a separate container. Have a globe available for three-dimensional reference.
- 1
Introduce one continent piece at a time, tracing its outline with two fingers while naming it slowly and clearly
Start with the child's home continent for immediate relevance and connection - 2
Invite the child to trace the same continent piece, encouraging slow, deliberate movement around all edges
Use the three-period lesson: 'This is Africa,' 'Show me Africa,' 'What is this?' - 3
Once familiar with individual pieces, demonstrate placing continents in their correct positions relative to each other
Work from left to right, top to bottom, mirroring reading preparation - 4
After mastering continent placement, introduce country pieces for one continent at a time
Choose countries with distinctive shapes initially, Italy's boot, India's triangle - 5
Create matching games where children pair continent outlines with corresponding country puzzles
Let children work at their own pace, some may spend weeks on continents alone
Every Child Is a Little Creator
Heritage
Since 1929
Brands used by
schools worldwide
European brands
AMI
Endorsed
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