Two years ago, my trio dressed up like pirates for Halloween. Well, if we’re getting technical here, we had a pirate, a pirate princess, and a pirate-parrot (read: a parrot that spoke like a pirate).
Make Your Own Pirate Map
Those costumes remain in our dress up bin and they are worn regularly. The pirate-phase has not worn off over here, folks. In fact, with our recent map-obsession, it has grown!
How to Make Your Own Pirate Map
My children have been reading and re-reading Pirate Treasure Map: A Fairytale Adventure for the past several weeks and I thought it only fitting that they make their very own pirate maps. This is a simple art activity that continues after it is finished because it inspires imaginative play.
Now, because I like to squeeze in reading whenever possible, we re-read several map-themed story books before starting this activity, including:
The Once Upon a Time Map Book: Take a Tour of Six Enchanted Lands
The Scary Places Map Book: Seven Terrifying Tours
Pirate Treasure Map: A Fairytale Adventure
At the Same Moment, Around the World
In the following photos, you can see that the kids used their favorite book-of-the-moment as art inspiration.
To make your own pirate map, all you need is some paper, crayons and markers, your imagination, and some strong tea.
Yes, tea. Read on to find out why.
First, draw your map! We did this activity early on in our map skills unit, so I did not have them include any of the map vocabulary that we are now working on, such as a compass rose, map grids, or legends. If your children are further along in their map-learnin’, you could certainly encourage them to use certain map elements.
Here is my almost 4-year-old, making a “very spooky” map.
Miss T loved this activity so much that she actually made two maps in one sitting. This is the Alice in Wonderland map.
I love the stillness that falls over my three when they are making art!
I love that Leo ended up including a grid and key, even though we hadn’t covered these elements in our unit study yet.
When it appears that the map-palooza is slowing down, it’s time for some strong tea.
When the tea has cooled, hand each kiddo a mug and a paintbrush and ask them to paint their map with tea. I wish I had captured their little faces on film- they thought this was the funniest idea in the history of the universe.
After the tea painting is done, clean up those spills and let your maps dry overnight or in the sunshine. When they are completely dry, hand them to your children and ask them to crumple the maps as if they were going to throw them away.
Then, slowly and carefully unwrap the crumpled map. If you want to make the maps look even older, you can tear off corners and add some strategic rips and tears. Just don’t go overboard!
The result? Crinkly, weathered looking treasure maps that will inspire lots of creative adventures for your children!
Looking for some other fun pirate books?
It wouldn’t be a MLP post without some book recs, am I right? Here are some of our favorite pirate books:
Now, it’s your turn… what creative fun have you had lately? Share here!
Making a Treasure Map – Umbrella Tree Cafe
Salt dough pirate treasure – the gingerbread house
DIY Pirate Vest & Patch – Play Dough & Popsicles
Toilet paper roll pirates – Just Another Mom
Set Sail with this DIY Pirate Boat- The Resourceful Mama
It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me – Study at Home Mama
Pirates Love Underpants Sensory Bin – Adventures of Adam
Free Pirate Play Dough Mats Numbers 1-10 – Life Over C’s
Pirate Science: Fool’s Gold, Parrots and Shipwrecks! – Share it! Science News
Pirate Colouring Pages – In The Playroom
Pirate Books for Kids of All Ages – Superheroes and Teacups
Treasure Chest Craft – Messy Little Monster
How Did Pirates Navigate? How to Read a Map – Schooling a Monkey
Pirate Sensory Bin – Life with Moore Babies
Pirate Preschool Printable – Living Life and Learning
How to Make Some Great Pirate Flags – Witty Hoots
Perfect Parrot Masks for Pirate Day Fun – Peakle Pie
Pirate Perler Bead Patterns – Brain Power Boy
DIY pirate gold – P is for Preschooler
Going on a Pirate Treasure Hunt – Play & Learn Everyday
Pirate boats from a cardboard box and movie night – CraftCreateCalm
Pirate Treasure Math Printables – Kidz Activities
Treasure Alphabet Match – The Kindergarten Connection
Make Your Own Pirate Map – My Little Poppies
Treasure Map Grid Activity – My Little Poppies
Make Your Own Map and Treasure Hunt – My Little Poppies
Create a FLOATING Pirate Ship! – Milk and Cuddles
Pirate Puppet Craft -Sugar Aunts
Follow Cait Fitz @ My Little Poppies’s board Crafts, DIY, & Kid Activities on Pinterest.
Arrr me hearties! We love treasure maps when we are playing Pirates! Thank you for joining in with Pirates! Blog Hop on Peakle Pie 🙂
[…] My friend, Cait, over at My Little Poppies also came up with this fun Make Your Own Pirate Map! […]
[…] Math Printables – Kidz Activities • Treasure Alphabet Match – The Kindergarten Connection • Make Your Own Pirate Map – My Little Poppies • Treasure Map Grid Activity – My Little Poppies • Make Your Own Map […]