Mapping the World Around (and Within): 25 Creative Mapping Ideas for Your Outdoor Journal
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Maps and the act of getting directions are some of the most literal ways people connect from one place to another. There’s something deeply grounding about drawing a map—especially one that doesn’t follow traditional geography. In My Map Book, author-illustrator Sara Fanelli reimagines what mapping can be: not just a way to track location, but a playful and reflective tool for understanding ourselves, our experiences, and our world. Inspired by her work, this blog post offers 25 creative mapping activities perfect for outdoor journaling. These prompts are flexible for individuals, students, or groups, and each one encourages cross-curricular connections—blending literacy, science, art, and social-emotional learning. If you’re a teacher without easy access to green space, outdoor mapping is also a great way to introduce nature journaling to your students.
My Map Book
"An imaginative, child-centered title that should be examined and enjoyed, and one that will also make a wonderful springboard for teachers introducing the concepts of mapping or autobiography," said School Library Journal.
In each spread of this bold and humorous picture book, children can examine their place in the world around them through detailed and engaging maps that are drawn from a child's perspective.
Twelve beautifully illustrated maps, such as Map of My Day and Map of My Family, will fascinate children, teaching about both mapping and telling one's story. Perfect for the curious and artsy, these maps are a creative introduction to recording, mapping, and adding a unique touch to the environment.
When finished reading the book, children can unfold the jacket—it turns into a poster-size map for them to use for drawing and creating.”
🗺️ 25 Mapping Activities for Outdoor Journaling
1. Map of My Day
Draw your day as a path with key moments marked like stops on a journey. Use symbols, doodles, or short phrases to represent activities, feelings, and memorable moments.
Cross-Content: ELA (sequencing), SEL (self-awareness), Art
2. Map of My Favorite Place
Sketch a location that brings you joy—your backyard, a favorite hiking spot, or even a patch of grass. Add labels and descriptive words to capture what makes it special. You can also choose to do a memory map (see bonus example toward the end of the post)
Cross-Content: Descriptive Writing, Geography, Mindfulness
3. Map of My Tummy
List and illustrate everything you ate today. Then, map it to where it came from (home, store, garden, etc.). Great for linking food with place and gratitude.
Cross-Content: Health, Science (nutrition), Social Studies (food systems)
4. Heart Map
Fill a heart shape with things, people, places, and ideas you love. Nature-inspired hearts might include trees, scents, textures, and colors that bring joy.
Cross-Content: SEL, Creative Writing, Art Therapy
Read More >> Unlocking Creativity: Using Heart Maps for Generative Writing in Secondary Classrooms
5. Map of Sounds
Sit in a quiet outdoor space. Map where different sounds come from—chirping birds to rustling leaves to distant cars. Use lines, symbols, and sound words.
Cross-Content: Music, Science (acoustics), Onomatopoeia Writing
6. Weather Map
Draw the sky and surroundings to show the current weather. Use color, texture, and motion lines to illustrate temperature, wind, or precipitation.
Cross-Content: Meteorology, Visual Art, Observational Skills
7. Bug Trail Map
Follow a bug (ant, beetle, butterfly) and document its journey. Note the terrain it travels over, what it avoids, and where it hides.
Cross-Content: Biology (insects), Inquiry Learning, Observation
8. Map of Smells
Identify unique scents in your area—fresh-cut grass, damp earth, blooming flowers—and place them on a map based on their strength and direction.
Cross-Content: Sensory Writing, Plant Science, SEL
9. Map of Emotions
Divide a page into color-coded zones that represent where you felt specific emotions outdoors. Example: calm under a shady tree, excited near a bird feeder.
Cross-Content: SEL, Mindfulness, Reflective Journaling
10. Sky Map
Map the sky from horizon to overhead. Include clouds, sun, and bird paths. Try checking the same spot at different times of day.
Cross-Content: Science (clouds, flight), Astronomy, Poetry
11. Tree Map
Pick a tree and map everything happening around it—bugs, bark textures, nests, and roots. Label features above and below ground.
Cross-Content: Ecology, Science (tree anatomy), Art Sketching
12. Texture Map
Do bark or leaf rubbings and arrange them on a page to show where they came from. Add directional arrows and sensory words.
Cross-Content: Art, Tactile Learning, Materials Science
13. Shadow Map
Map where shadows fall during the day. Return at different times and note how shapes and angles change with the sun’s movement.
Cross-Content: Math (angles/time), Earth Science, Visual Arts
14. Map of Questions
Wander and stop when something sparks curiosity. Add it to a map as a “?” symbol and write your question. Return later to explore answers.
Cross-Content: Inquiry-Based Science, Writing to Learn, Curiosity Journaling
15. Map of Animal Homes
Track animal signs—burrows, spider webs, nests, or scat. Sketch their location and what kind of animal might live there.
Cross-Content: Biology (habitats), Mapping Skills, Research
16. Map of the Wind
Feel which way the wind blows and what it touches. Map leaves blowing, branches swaying, or flags fluttering.
Cross-Content: Physics (motion), Poetry, Observation
17. Gratitude Map
Map moments of gratitude in nature: the breeze, a shady tree, a quiet bench. Use heart symbols and colors to highlight them.
Cross-Content: SEL, Journaling, Reflective Practice
18. Pollinator Path Map
Note where you see bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds. Mark plants they visit and draw the pollinator path.
Cross-Content: Biology (pollination), Environmental Science
19. Color Map
Create swatches of the most vibrant colors you see in nature. Add where they came from and how they made you feel.
Cross-Content: Art, Descriptive Language, Observation
20. Birdsong Map
Sit quietly and track birdsong—note pitch, volume, direction, and movement. Try drawing sound waves or symbols for different calls.
Cross-Content: Music, Zoology (birds), Pattern Recognition
21. Seasonal Shift Map
Visit the same spot once a week and map changes in plants, animals, and weather. Use flip pages or layered drawings.
Cross-Content: Climate Science, Phenology, Long-Term Observation
22. Map of Me
Create a metaphorical map where parts of your body or personality are places: "Forest of Ideas," "Desert of Doubt," or "Mountain of Confidence."
Cross-Content: SEL, Creative Writing, Self-Exploration
23. Friendship Map
Map memories made with a friend or peer in nature—favorite trails, shared jokes, places you’ve explored together.
Cross-Content: SEL, Storytelling, Relationship Skills
24. Growth Map
Track where you've seen growth—new buds, animal tracks, or even personal insights. Add dates and observations.
Cross-Content: Botany, Journaling, Emotional Literacy
25. Imaginary Nature Park Map
Design your dream outdoor space. Add fantastical features like floating ponds, rainbow trees, or singing rocks.
Cross-Content: Fantasy Writing, Art, Environmental Design
Bonus Map: Memory Map
A memory map is a powerful journaling technique that helps you visually and emotionally connect with a place that holds meaning in your life. To create one, start by sketching a simple layout of a physical location. This could be your childhood home, a neighborhood block, a vacation spot, or even a single room. For my example below, I chose our library and the nearby nature preserve. Then, begin attaching specific memories to different areas on the map, focusing on events, routines, or emotions that frequently occurred in those spots. For example, you might write about the laughter that always echoed from the kitchen, the quiet moments spent reading in a corner, or the bittersweet goodbyes at the front door. This kind of journaling blends visual storytelling with emotional reflection, helping you uncover the deeper layers of your experiences and see how your environment has shaped who you are.
Mapping as a Window into Wonder
Mapping doesn’t have to be limited to roads and topography—it can be deeply personal, creative, and insightful. Inspired by My Map Book, these mapping prompts invite young writers and seasoned journalers alike to reimagine the world around and within them.
Each map tells a story. Each drawing invites reflection. And each connection to place deepens our relationship with nature and self.
