The “Me on the Map” activity is a popular Montessori exercise that personally connects preschool and elementary children to geography and helps them understand their place in the world. This hands-on activity links the child’s immediate environment to the broader world, fostering a sense of belonging and context. And you can do the entire activity without a single specialized Montessori manipulative. We also have a free printable to make it even easier. First, let’s dive into what your child needs to know before the activity, the philosophy behind it, then I will provide step-by-step instructions to create the Montessori Me on the Map geography activity at home.
what geography knowledge does your child need to complete “me on the map”?
Like other areas of knowledge in Montessori, give geography first to the child’s hand. You can introduce your child to our world with a globe. Give them time to observe, explore, feel, and ask questions. Montessori uses a land and water globe to show that Earth’s surface is land (white in color and rough in texture) and water (blue in color and smooth in texture), then a continent globe that shows the continent borders and names.
If you are homeschooling on a tight budget and don’t want to invest in multiple globes, simply use a regular globe to show your child the world and introduce the continents. Continent puzzles and 3-part cards are more hands-on geography materials for learning the continents. Once your child has been introduced to the world and the continent names, they are ready to complete the “Me on the Map” activity.
the philosophy behind montessori’s “me on the map”
Dr. Maria Montessori believed in starting with the familiar and expanding outward to help children make sense of complex concepts. The Me on the Map activity embodies this by moving from the child’s immediate surroundings of their home to their city, country, and eventually the entire planet. This progression shows children how everything is interconnected.
Many children also enjoy the popular storybook Me on the Map as a lead-up to this Montessori work.
Through this activity, children develop spatial awareness to understand where they fit in the world geographically; cultural awareness to recognize the variety of places; and a sense of identity about their role in the larger global community. Working with maps and our place in the world not only helps with general geography knowledge, but also supports the student in literature comprehension in fiction and nonfiction, spatial sense which is linked to success in math and science, visual literacy skills which help to decode and comprehend images, and of course, history.
Me on the Map complements any homeschool method, such as classical, eclectic, unschooling, Charlotte Mason, or using an online program. As you likely have the materials you will need for Me on the Map in your homeschool supplies, it also fits any budget.
materials needed
- A blank Me on the Map template: You could draw this, but we save you time with this free printable.
- Colored pencils, crayons, or markers: Colored pencils have advantage over other coloring mediums as they further pencil grip and writing skills.
- Photos or drawings of your child, your home, and local landmarks: I like to do photographs of the home and local landmarks and encourage my child to draw themselves, although some kids can’t resist a selfie.
- A world map or globe: A printable world map is included in the printable in case you don’t already have one.
- White card stock or paper.
- Scissors, glue, and a stapler (optional) or hole punch and brad fastener (also optional)
- Collect some pictures of your child and house, as well as a small map of your city that will fit into the inner circle of the 3rd layer. Consider putting together a fact sheet with some history on your street, your town, etc.
The activity uses concentric circles or nested shapes, each representing a different layer of the child’s environment. The smallest circle is “Me,” the next slightly larger circle is My Home, 3rd is My City, 4th My State or Province, 5th My Country, 6th My Continent, and 7th is the final, largest circle of My World.
If you are in the U.S., print the page for your state for the 4th layer. Not in the U.S.? There are blank pages labeled “My State” and “My Province” to customize for anywhere in the world. For the 5th and 6th layers, there are prepared pages for the U.S. and North America or blank versions of those pages for anywhere else. For the 7th layer, you will find a map page prepared for Earth. There are no blank planet pages.
If color printing is not an option, there are pages for black-and-white printing.
step-by-step instructions
- Prepare the layers: Cut out the circles before beginning the activity with your child. If you are using a fastener, hole punch the top of each circle. Otherwise, the top of each circle will be glued to the circle beneath it.
- Introduce the work: Begin by showing your child a globe or a map. Point out your location and explain how the layers of the map represent their place in the world. Use simple language appropriate for their age.
- Fill in the layers: Work through each layer together. For example:
- 1st – Me: In the “Me” section, invite your child draw a picture of themselves or glue a photo on this top layer.
- 2nd – My Home: Next, invite your child to paste or draw a picture of your home and label it with the street address. Find your street on a map and the location of your home.
- 3rd – My City: Find your city on a map. Show your child the 3rd circle to complete with an image of your city and label it. Invite your child to discuss and make observations about your town.
- Repeat with the remaining layers of My State or Province, My Country, My Continent, and My World circles.
- Assemble the layers: Have your child arrange the layers in order, starting with “Me” and ending with the 7th layer of My World. Staple or glue them together so they can flip through the layers like a booklet or fan them out.
- Review and reflect: Go through each completed layer with your child, reinforcing how they are connected to each larger context. Encourage questions and discussions about other places in the world.
extension activities
To enhance the learning experience, experiment with extension activities. Here are a few to start:
- Create a family tree map: Create a family tree using the activity, with a set for extended family members and where they live.
- Explore cultures: Research customs, foods, or traditions from different regions within your country or around the world.
- Map your travels: Use push pins or stickers to mark places your family has visited.
- Map your bucket list: Create a vision board map collage of places you wish to go.
“me on the map” montessori tips for homeschool parents
- Follow the child: Let your child’s curiosity guide the activity. Spend more time exploring the layer, if they’re particularly interested.
- Keep it hands-on: Use physical objects like globes, puzzles, or atlas books to supplement the activity.
- Incorporate movement: For younger children, physically walking from room to room or using outdoor spaces to discuss “My Home” and “My City” can make the activity more engaging.
why this montessori activity matters
“Me on the Map” is more than a geography lesson; it’s a foundation for understanding community, culture, and the interconnectedness of life. By anchoring this understanding in their own experience, children are better equipped to understand and appreciate geographical concepts—all while strengthening their sense of self.
Whether you’re new to Montessori or a seasoned homeschooler, this activity is a meaningful way to bring the world to your child’s fingertips while keeping their learning experience joyful and rooted in real-life. Ready to get started? Simply claim your free download with the green form below!
Much mom love,
4th of July Beekeeping Breastfeeding Budgeting Childhood Allergies Christmas Culture/Geography/History Doctor Visits Encouragement Food Allergies Free Montessori Printables Free Printables Funschooling Gardening Gluten-Free Grain-Free Home Management Homeschool Curriculum Homeschool for Free Homeschool Organization Homeschool Planning Homeschool Printables homeschool transcript Humor Infant Kids Birthdays Language Arts Meal Planning Montessori Home Montessori Homeschooling Montessori Parenting New to Homeschooling Pets Positive Parenting Practical Life Printable Planners Recipe Recipe Cards Science Summer The Thrifty Widow Toddler Unschooling Vegan Youth sports