Kindergarten Cartographers
by Lisa Preston, lower school naturalist
A sense of wonder is inspired each time our Kindergarten naturalists venture outside.
A sense of wonder is inspired each time our Kindergarten naturalists venture outside.
They notice so much, observing with curious eyes and ears, then recording what they see. Creating a map is a perfect way to connect that sense of wonder with the place itself.
A map is a "picture of a place" built around familiar landmarks. These landmarks do more than simply define the place – they also give children a conceptual way to connect what they see around them. The Kindergartners are busy mapping their world. They’ve mapped their place in the classroom, their way around the school, and their place in their neighborhood as well as their naturalists' journeys.
Mapping journeys begin with each young naturalist orienting his/her map, then adding symbols and illustrations along the way. Students learn an area’s natural history as we identify the plants, animals and anything else that makes it special. The personal maps help create a meaningful story about each place.
Once back in the classroom, students learn to locate each of the natural places they’ve mapped on the larger city map of Nashville, making even deeper connections to this place we live.
Our journeys have covered Owls' Hollow trail in Warner Park, the spillway bridge loop at Radnor Lake, a grid map marking the familiar places around the Warner Park Nature Center, a collection map of the plants and mud we discovered in the USN Wetland, and even a listening map cataloging both man-made and natural sounds of Peabody Green.
As budding cartographers, the Kindergartners gain a greater understanding of their own sense of place, and how their world is all connected. Profoundly important concepts to learn – naturally.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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High Schoolers volunteer across Nashville during Community Action Day
After gathering in Durnan Auditorium to hear from Kayla Miller ’10, Ed, D., and former teacher Betty White, High Schoolers spent the day volunteering at various organizations throughout the region during Community Action Day.Read More -
Divisions come together in exciting printmaking lesson
During a fun cross-division collaboration, students in Third Grade Teacher Cala Millis' class visited HS Art Teacher Chris Cheney's class to learn about printmaking and the inner workings of a USN art studio.Read More -
Grab Music Night tickets February 27
Rodney Crowell, legendary artist and grandfather to USN student Iris ‘26, will perform on Saturday, April 11, for Music Night, our annual adult-only concert in Durnan Auditorium. Tickets will be available soon for this fundraiser, which supports the arts and athletics at USN.Read More
Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.