Social Studies Curriculum

Elementary (K-6) Skills

« Return to Skills table of contents

Section Two, Part A - Maps and Globes

I. Interpret Maps and Globes.

1. Learn to orient the map; note directions.

   1. Describe relative location of objects (visually and using terms near, far, right, left, high, low, etc).

   2. Use Cardinal Directions (N, S, E, W).

   3. Use intermediate directions (NE, SE, SW, NW).

   4. Use intermediate directions on maps (NNE, ENE etc.).

   5. Identify, locate, and understand the North and South Poles and North Arrow.

   6. Use a magnetic compass to determine direction (walk in a given direction using a compass).

   7. Orient maps by using north arrow.

   8. Understand and provide examples of Earth's coordinate system of parallels and meridians (Equator, Prime Meridian, poles, tropic & polar parallels).

   9. Identify and locate latitude/longitude/Greenwich, Date Line, Tropics, Arctic, Antarctic Circle, Great Circle.

   10. Identify latitude and longitude on different map projections.

   11. Understand there are different map projections; comprehend the relationship between Earth, a globe, and maps.

   12. Understand that maps can represent all or a portion of Earth.

   13. Construct simple maps including orientation using north arrow (e.g. classroom, playground, school), map legend, and symbols.

2. Locate places on maps and globes; read, interpret and construct simple maps.

   1. Locate (find) places on a simple map without using coordinates (discuss different methods of locating places on maps).

   2. Locate and name oceans and continents.

   3. Identify places on a map using simple coordinates.

   4. Identify North America, the USA, and Alaska on a globe.

   5. Recognize and locate the USA, Alaska, and Anchorage (Girdwood, Eagle River, etc.) on maps.

   6. Locate native regions in Alaska.

   7. Use various systems to locate places on maps (e.g. symbols, colors, boundary lines, descriptive such as at the mouth of a river).

   8. Identify and locate areas such as high and low latitudes, polar and tropical latitudes; Western, Eastern, Northern, Southern, water, and land hemispheres.

   9. Understand, interpret, and use the map legend(map key) and scale.

   10. Use an atlas to locate places and selected geographic information about places.

   11. Describe time zones and why they are needed.

   12. Recognize and analyze various geographic elements important to human settlement (e.g. cities located by water for consumption, transportation, industry, etc.).

   13. Use two or more maps (landforms,climate, vegetation, resources, population) to explain basic geographic characteristics of an area or locale.

   14. Use maps to examine and explain the location of various transportation routes (roads, railroads, airports, water).

   15. Use map symbols to determine relative elevation.

   16. Draw sketch maps of of selected areas (house, yard, neighborhood, etc.). Use directions, scale, and symbols.

3. Understand and use map legend, symbols, scale and measuring distances.

   1. Understand the purpose of map symbols as contained in the map legend or key.

   2. Use symbols within map legends to interpret maps.

   3. Define map scale and provide examples and uses of map scale.

   4. Identify and use maps of different scales.(e.g., small scale world maps vs. large scale map of local area).

   5. Use large-scale maps to interpret geographic information about familiar areas such as home, school, a neighborhood, or city.

   6. Measure various distances on different maps. Determine the most accurate type of map to use for various purposes (e.g. to plan a trip; to locate a home, town, state, or country).

   7. Evaluate when to use a large and small scale map.

   8. Learn to measure distances on a globe (using a string, cloth tape). Understand that this arc is part of a great circle.

4. Identify and interpret map symbols.

   1. Recognize that actual objects may be represented on a map.

   2. Recognize that symbols represent actual objects/things on a map (e.g. dots=cities; swamps=grasses; mine=pick & shovel etc.

   3. Locate symbols in the Legend.

   4. Identify map symbols representing roads, bridges, towns and cities. Identify symbols for man-made objects. Where are these and other map symbols found and identified?

   5. Identify and define that color, lines, shading and other symbols are used to represent different elevation of the land surface. Enumerate and recall other maps having colors representing climates, rocks trees, populations, etc.

   6. Recognize that symbols or colors can represent different water depths.

   7. Identify land forms (oceans, lakes, rivers, inlets, gulf, bay, etc.).

5. Compare maps and data sources: draw inferences.

   1. Analyze data provided in the legend (title, scale, symbols, inset map); draw inferences upon what will be found on the map.

   2. Evaluate map data, synthesize and apply information (economy, wildlife, drinking water, vegetation). Use two maps to compare different information about a subject (population, resources, agriculture, climate, landforms).

 

Next: Section Three  »