Me on the map: a nested circles geography activity for Pre-K and K
What it is: a first geography activity where students build a set of nested circles, from a tiny circle with their own picture out to a big circle for planet Earth. Each ring is one step bigger: me, my home, my town, my state, my country, my continent, my planet. It gives young students a picture of where they are in the world before they read real maps.
Time: about 20 minutes. Grade: Pre-K and kindergarten (ages 4 to 6).
Materials: paper plates or paper circles in 7 sizes (or draw 7 rings on one large sheet), crayons, glue, and a globe or world map to point to.
- Start with the smallest circle. Each student draws a self-portrait in it and says, "This is me."
- Glue it onto the next circle and draw a home around it. Talk about home without writing addresses: "Who lives in your home?"
- Add the town or city ring. Name it together and draw one place everyone knows, like the library or a park.
- Add the state and country rings. Show the state on a map and trace its outline with a finger, then say the country name together.
- Add the continent and Earth rings. On the globe, point from the class's country to its continent, then spin the globe to show the whole planet.
- Read the rings from the inside out like a chant: "Me, my home, my town, my state, my country, my continent, my planet."
Differentiation: students who need support do 4 rings (me, home, town, planet). Students who are ready add the name of each place on its ring. English learners can point and repeat the chant with a partner.
Quick check: ask a student to point to two rings and say which one is bigger and why.
Save this activity to your library so it is ready when you need it.
Found this helpful? Get the week's best posts like it.
About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 31, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Social studies
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.