If you live in a city, use a street map to learn about the geography of your neighborhood and other parts of the city. For rural areas, county road maps may serve a similar purpose.
Learning first hand about the local geography can be a source of very good learning experiences, especially for young children. As you travel to school, church, the store, or other frequently visited places ask the children to identify important landmarks along the way (public buildings, major streets and thoroughfares, parks monuments or architecturally distinctive buildings).
Have your children draw a sketch map of the route, locating the important landmarks seen along the way. The sketch map doesn't have to be geographically accurate; it may reflect your children's mental images of the route and the important places along it; it may not show all the places you think should be included. The important thing is that your children begin to learn the process of mapping a route. Be encouraging, regardless of the quality of the drawing or its accuracy. If the map has gross errors, gently help your children to improve the map's accuracy through questions and discussion.