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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Operations staff makes summer upgrades
Over the summer, the Operations staff worked to prepare the Edgehill Campus for the year ahead, beginning with the Back Lawn renovation, installing new carpet in classrooms and the Hassenfeld Library, replacing furniture, painting, updating lighting, improving HVAC systems, updating the Sperling Gym concession area, and replacing a part of the floor in Cheek Gym.Read More -
Back Lawn transforms with turf field, track
Expect to see an active construction site as students, families, and faculty return to the Edgehill Campus. Progress continues on USN's most anticipated campus improvement of summer 2026.Read More -
Curricular travel opportunities return for the 2026-2027 school year
Read MoreUniversity School of Nashville is excited to announce the return of curricular travel opportunities. Student applications for the 2026-2026 school year will open Friday, August 21, 2026. Additional details, including, financial aid processes, and application timelines, will be shared with families soon.Please contact K-12 Director of Experiential Learning Kalee Barbis with any questions, kbarbis@usn.org.
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.