Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Invent Your Own Island: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Invent Your Own Island is a free printable geography worksheet for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Children match compass clues, then draw their own make believe island and fill in a map key. It needs only a pencil and some colours, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children start by reading short clues that tell them where features go on an island, using the words north, south, east and west. They match each clue to the right direction first. Then they draw their island map in the box, adding colour and details. Last, they make a key with a symbol for each feature, so another person could read the map.
- Draw a beach in the south. Colour it yellow.
- Draw a forest in the north. Add trees.
- Draw a harbour in the east and a secret cave in the west.
- My island map
- My key (symbols)
Planning your island
Name it first
Give the island a name before drawing. A name makes it feel real and gives the child a reason to care about the map.
Pencil first, colour last
Sketch each feature lightly in pencil in the right part of the box. Check each one against its clue, then colour.
One symbol, one meaning
Each symbol in the key should stand for one thing only. Keep symbols simple so they are quick to draw and easy to read.
Test the map
Ask a grown-up or friend to point to a feature using only a compass word. If they find it, the map works.
Why draw an island map?
An island is a piece of land with water all around it. Islands can be tiny or very large, and people live on many of them. Great Britain is an island, so children in England already live on one. Inventing an island lets children use geography words in a playful way, without worrying about getting a real place right.
Maps are a way of showing a place from above using drawings and symbols. A compass tells us direction, and a key explains what each symbol means. When children draw their own map, they have to decide where things go and how to show them. That is the same thinking they will need when they read real maps later.
Island and map facts
- An island is land with water all around it.
- Great Britain is an island.
- A compass needle points towards north.
- Mapmakers use symbols so a lot of information fits on a small page.
- Greenland is the largest island in the world.
Skills and curriculum link
- Compass directions
- Using a map key
- Following clues
- Drawing a simple map
- Using direction words
- Careful reading
Map ideas that help
- Four main directionsThe four main compass directions are north, south, east and west. Children can learn them in order, going round like a clock.
- North on mapsOn most maps, north is at the top. If children know where north is, they can work out the other directions.
- What a key doesA key is a small list that shows what each symbol on the map means. Without it, a reader has to guess.
- Keep symbols simpleA good symbol is quick to draw and looks a bit like the real thing. A tiny tree can stand for a forest, for example.
Key words
- IslandLand with water all around it.
- CompassA tool that shows direction. It helps you find north, south, east and west.
- DirectionThe way something is, or the way you go, such as north or east.
- MapA drawing of a place seen from above.
- KeyA list on a map that shows what each symbol means.
- SymbolA small picture or mark that stands for something real.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the clues together. Ask your child to say each compass word aloud and point to where it goes on the page.
- Let your child match the directions first. Point out that north is usually at the top of a map.
- Then let them draw the island and make the key. Talk about each choice, such as where to put a feature and why.
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Write N, S, E and W around the drawing box before children start. Then they can see where each direction is. Read one clue at a time and let them point to the right side of the box before they draw anything.
To stretch confident children
Add a fifth feature, such as a lighthouse, and add it to the key. Then write a clue for a friend to follow. Ask them to find the new feature on your map using only your clue.
Make it a game
Swap maps with a partner. Take turns reading out a clue, such as one using a compass word, and see if your partner can point to the right feature. Check each answer against the key together.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child mixes up east and west.
Try thisHold the page with north at the top. Show that east is on the right and west is on the left. Write the letters on the page.
Watch forFeatures are drawn on the map but missing from the key.
Try thisGo through the map together. Point to each feature and ask, "Where is its symbol in the key?" Add any that are missing.
Watch forDrawings overlap or run out of space in the box.
Try thisStart with light pencil outlines and keep each feature small. Rub out and move anything that crowds another feature.
Talk about it
- What would you call your island, and why?
- How could someone use your map to find a feature?
- Which compass direction did you find easiest to remember?
- Why do you think maps have a key?
- If you could visit your island, where would you go first?
- How is your island map different from a picture of the island?
Take it off the page
Playground compass
Chalk N, S, E and W on the ground, or label four spots. Call out a direction and ask children to walk that way. A grown-up can check which way is north first.
Sand tray island
Use a tray of sand or a patch of garden soil to build a tiny island. Add stones and sticks, then describe where each one is using compass words.
Treasure hunt at home
Hide a small toy in a room. Write clues using north, south, east and west, and let your child follow them. Decide together which wall is north.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Read the clues aloud and ask them to explain their choices. Praise their effort and thinking, not only the right answers. Short bursts work better than long sessions.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the skills are listed so you can match them to your planning.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider geography plan. It pairs well with atlases, outdoor play and everyday talk about direction. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or use it for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in geography
Before this sheet, children usually practise simple direction and position words, such as left, right, near and far. They may also draw maps of familiar places like a classroom or garden. Those early skills help children see that a map is a view from above.
After this, children can move on to reading real maps and atlases, finding places by their features, and using simple fieldwork. At Key Stage 1, the National Curriculum for England covers geographical skills and fieldwork, including simple compass directions and using maps with keys and symbols.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Invent Your Own Island for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Some Year 1 children may enjoy it with help, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2 for more challenge.
- What will children practise?
Children practise using compass directions and a map key. They follow clues, then draw and label a make believe island. They also practise reading carefully and using direction words in a playful way.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Children match the directions first, then draw. Point out that north is usually at the top of a map. Check the answers on page 2 together afterwards.
- What if it feels too hard?
Write N, S, E and W around the drawing box before children start. Then they can see where each direction is. Work through it together the first time and talk about each choice.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to practise the same skills a few weeks later.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper and a pencil. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Black and white printing on plain A4 paper is fine.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.