• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Living Montessori Now

Montessori Inspiration for Parents and Teachers

  • HOME
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • PR/Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Grab A Button
  • About Montessori
    • About Montessori
    • Resources
    • ABCs of Montessori
    • Overview
    • Principles
    • Free Printables
    • Materials
    • Homeschool Classroom and Materials
      • Circle Time Activities
    • Techniques
    • Training
      • Free Montessori Video Lessons
    • Inspiration
  • Activities
    • Circle Time Activities
    • Art
    • Cultural
    • Language
    • Math
    • Practical Life
    • Practical Life – Grace and Courtesy
    • Sensorial
    • Unit Studies
    • PreK + K Sharing
    • Monthly Themed Activities
    • Holidays and Celebrations
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool High School
    • Montessori Homeschool Classroom and Materials
    • Unit Studies
    • PreK + K Sharing
    • Circle Time Activities
    • Monthly Themed Activities
    • Holidays and Celebrations
    • Free Montessori Video Lessons
  • Free Printables
    • Free Montessori Printables
    • Free Printables
    • More Than Ten Years’ Worth of Free Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
    • Sign up for the Living Montessori Now Newsletter & Get Monthly Subscriber Freebies!
    • Free Montessori Geography Album
  • Holidays
    • Resources for Upcoming Holidays
    • Holidays and Celebrations
  • Subscribe
    • Sign up for the Living Montessori Now Newsletter & Get Monthly Subscriber Freebies!
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Products
    • My Products
    • Giveaway Linky

Montessori-Inspired Map Activities Using Pin It! Maps

August 19, 2015 By Deb Chitwood 3 Comments

Previous article: Preparing Montessori Toddler Spaces at Home
Next article: Montessori Walking on the Line for Toddlers

I love Montessori-inspired geography activities for children, so I was happy to review 3 sets of maps for Pin-It! Maps, a new Montessori homeschool company. I chose the Land and Water Map Set, World Map Set, and North America Map Set as the three maps I would first introduce to young children.

Today, I’m reviewing Pin It! Maps and sharing Montessori-inspired map activities for a variety of ages using the maps.

Montessori-Inspired Map Activities Using Pin It! Maps

 

Disclosure: I was given the 3 Pin-It Map Sets by Pin It! Maps. I was not required to give a positive review, and all opinions are honest and my own. This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Update: Pin It! Maps aren’t available right now, and I’m not sure if they closed their business. You can find lots of large pin map options on Etsy.

About Pin It! Maps

When I saw what Pin It! Maps were like, I was amazed at the quality of the products, the wealth of learning possibilities, the space-saving features, and the wide age range the maps are appropriate for.

The maps themselves are UV coated … and are beautiful. This is an explanation from the website:

“The original artwork for the pin maps was done by Kenneth Townsend and Ellen Kuzdro. They are archived in the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division. The maps are hand-shaded, which sets them apart as an art form from digitally-shaded relief maps, commonly in use. I created the pin map set using current GIS data, which added layers of information and details. You can use them with confidence that they are not only beautiful works of art, but are up-to-date and geographically correct.”

The backing that comes with each map is an Expanded Polystyrene sheet. The maps are held on the backing with plastic corners. They’re lightweight but sturdy.

Assembled Country Pin Flag from Pin-It! Maps

Assembled Country Pin Flag from Pin-It! Maps

Each map set contains everything needed to put together the maps and pin flags (even the transparent tape) except the straight pins themselves. The exact type needed is specified, and I could easily get the pins on Amazon or at a local hobby store. The flags are already printed, cut, and ready to be assembled. It doesn’t take long to put together one of the pin flags.

Each map set includes easy-to-use control maps, so you don’t need to be a geography expert to teach your child using them!

The maps from Pin-It! Maps can provide learning activities for 3 year olds through high schoolers. For younger children you’ll find suggestions using labels without pins. You’ll even find free teaching guides and materials for many levels at the Pin-It Maps site! My granddaughter, Zoey, is only 21 months old, but I let her experience a pinless version of Pin-It! Maps that could be used with young preschoolers. She loved the activities!

Land and Water Map

The land and water map is a natural extension to a study of landforms.  You can put together the pin flags using the pins or use labels without pins.

Land and Water Map with Land, Air, and Water Figures

Land and Water Map with Land, Air, and Water Figures

Because of Zoey’s age, I prepared an extension to the Montessori land, air, and water activity. I used the Safari Ltd. On the Road TOOB, In the Sky TOOB, and In the Water TOOB. I introduced the names of some of the land and water forms and placed the appropriate labels on the map, but it wasn’t necessary for a child that young.

Using Land and Water Map with Land, Air, and Water Figures

Using Land and Water Map with Land, Air, and Water Figures

Later, I added a few animals from the Safari Ltd. North American Wildlife TOOB and River TOOB to include land, air, and water animals. (Note: I have free TOOB Keys available that make it much easier to identify the animals!)

World Map

World Map with Animal Figures

World Map with Animal Figures

Because of my Zoey’s age, I used the continent labels without pins for the world map. I added animals from the Safari Ltd. North America Wildlife TOOB, Rainforest TOOB, Arctic TOOB, Wild TOOB, Penguins TOOB, Land Down Under TOOB, and Pandas TOOB. I have free TOOB Keys for these TOOBS, too.

You wouldn’t need to use as many different TOOBS. I have TOOBS to cover animals for all the continents. If you’ll be doing a lot of geography work with preschoolers, you might find it worthwhile to invest in a number of different TOOBS. They’re all wonderful! But you can keep the animals as simple as you wish.

Working with the World Map with Animal Figures

Working with the World Map with Animal Figures

Zoey again had fun placing the animals on the appropriate continent.

There are so many more activities that can be done with the world map. There are land and water form flags as well as flags to mark geographic line or direction. The photos on the map help children understand various biomes.

North America Map

North America Pin Map with Animal Figures and Landmarks

North America Pin Map with Animal Figures and Landmarks

I generally wouldn’t use the North American map set with a preschooler who wasn’t ready to use pins, so I only show this map with the pin flags. For a preschooler, I do like the idea of using Safari Ltd. animals (and landmarks, if you wish) along with the national pin flags for each country.  I used the World Landmarks TOOB and Around the World TOOB. You could add the Statue of Liberty in place of or alongside the Empire State Building.

I used animals from the Safari Ltd. North American Wildlife TOOB and Desert TOOB. I noticed an alligator crept in, though, I guess from the River TOOB we used with the world map. 😉

North America Pin Map

North America Pin Map

Older children can gain a huge amount of knowledge by studying all the information available on the maps alone. The mapwork would also be a good addition to research. There are pin flags (separate colors for each type) for countries-green, cities-red, landforms-yellow, islands-white, water-blue, geo. lines-gray, national flags-colorful. There are identifiers on the backs to help keep the pins with the appropriate map.

I don’t show the country pin flags here or pin flags for all the cities. Still, you can see what an amazing resource this map is. Unless you’re a total geography genius, you’ll almost certainly learn a lot if you work with the pins yourself! (They’re very inviting and fun!)

Deb - Signature

Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!

If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), and YouTube. While you’re here, please check out the Living Montessori Now shop.

And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive some awesome freebies in the process!

Previous article: Preparing Montessori Toddler Spaces at Home
Next article: Montessori Walking on the Line for Toddlers

Filed Under: Activities - Cultural, Montessori Homeschool Classroom and Materials, Resource Reviews Tagged With: elementary, geography, map activities, Montessori, Pin It! Maps, pin maps, preschooler, preschoolers, Safari Ltd.

Previous Post: « Preparing Montessori Toddler Spaces at Home
Next Post: Montessori Walking on the Line for Toddlers »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erin says

    August 28, 2015 at 4:14 am

    These maps look AWESOME! I can’t wait to check these out!

    Reply
  2. Tammy L Wagner says

    March 20, 2023 at 4:54 am

    Do you have any idea what happened to Pin-It Maps? Are they still being sold under a different website or name?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

What Are You Looking For?

...and get free geography album, monthly subscriber freebie, and access to the Living Montessori Now Resource Library! 

 I respect your privacy

Categories

Shop Living Montessori Now!

Living Montessori Now Sponsors

Montessori Print Shop

Alison's Montessori
Montessori for the Earth

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives

I Recommend (My Affiliates)

Montessori by Mom

Shop Montessori Services
Shop For Small Hands

How to Get Kids to Listen without Nagging, Reminding, or Yelling



Shop KiwiCo

Shop Little Passports for Award-Winning Adventure

Printed Alphabet Wood Tracing Board

Little Passports

Footer

Connect with LMN



Supervision

The activities shared on this blog require adult supervision at all times. You know which activities are appropriate for your children and/or the children under your care and are responsible for those children's safety.

You Can Also Find Me

Bits of Positivity PreK + K Sharing Spring Snow Publications

Subscribe by Email


Copyright © 2023 Deb Chitwood