ESL map for teaching directions – Pirate Map
This a fun activity that can be used in most classes as the vocabulary required is quite simple. There are 2 worksheets, the pirate map for teaching directions and the directions and answer key worksheet.
Students need to know the following prepositions of place – up. down, left, right, on the left, below, and between. They also need to be familiar with the nouns – square, ship, sun, sword, bottle, mountain, pig, flag, bird, whale, castle, cloud, wave, tree, and treasure.
How to conduct the pirate map pair work activity
First of all, it is very useful to do an in-class demonstration of the activity. Draw a grid on the board of 12 squares and put a ship somewhere in the grid. Give a marker to one student and tell them to go to the ship. Next, give them some directions such as go down 2 squares draw a cat, or something easy. Get another student or two to follow similar directions. In this way, the class will be prepared for the actual pair work exercise.
To conduct the activity, get the students to sit opposite, facing each other. Each student should place their worksheet in an open book and use the cover of the book to prevent their partner from seeing the instructions or map. This helps students rely on speaking only.
Also, cut the answer key off the student B worksheet so they can’t use it to cheat. Hand it out after the activity is complete so they can check their answers. Students usually get a laugh out of comparing their drawings at the end.
Another way to use these worksheets is as listening exercise only. Give each member of the class a copy of the student A worksheet only and the teacher reads the instructions to them all.
You could also get pupils to read 1 instruction at a time before getting the next student to come to the front and read the next set of directions.
Similar giving directions activities
You may want to check out the ESL prepostions drawing worksheets which use more prepostions of place. Alternatively try the ESL drawing activities in which students need to form their own instructions and describe their given pictures.
