Learning Target: Describe the purposes and uses of different types of maps.  

 

Directions:  

1. Below, place a where you think you are located. 2. In which continent are you located? ________________________________________ 3. In which country are you located? __________________________________________ 4. Circle the region that most closely describes the state in which you live:  

The South The Southwest The Southeast The Midwest The Northeast The West  

 

1

 What is a map? A map is a drawing or a representation of a place.  Directions: Below, draw a map of your neighborhood.  

                             

Directions: Exchange your map with your partner and answer the questions below.   1. What is shown in this map?     2. Are there any symbols used?       3. What is missing from this map?     4. What could be added to this map to make it easier to read? 

2

What are the different kinds of maps? PHYSICAL Map  shows landscapes and features   POLITICAL Map  shows political boundaries 

● bodies of water and land features   ● country boundaries, city names, capital cities  

 Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/afnewlnd

 Source: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/afpoliticallg.h

 

Observations  Question 

 

 

Observations  Question      

Based on this physical map, name one desert and one river on the continent of Africa. 

Based on this political map, name two countries in the continent of Africa. 

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http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/afpoliticallg.htmhttp://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/afnewlnd.gif

 

RESOURCE Map  shows economic activity   THEMATIC Map  shows specific topics for reference 

● available products, natural resources  ● rainfall, population density, infant mortality rates, etc.   

 Source:http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business/global-economy/140502/world

mmodities-exports-map 

 Source: http://www.economist.com/blogs/feastandfamine/2014/03/african-demograph

 

Observations  Question 

 

 

Observations  Question      

Based on this resource map, name two resources on the continent of Africa. 

Based on this thematic map, name two countries that have the highest fertility rates.  

4

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business/global-economy/140502/world-commodities-exports-maphttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/business/global-economy/140502/world-commodities-exports-maphttp://www.economist.com/blogs/feastandfamine/2014/03/african-demography-0

 

Check for Understanding: But, Because, So Directions: Using your notes above, complete the check for understanding sentences below. 

1. If I want to know which African country had the greates

number of professional soccer players, I would use a 

______________________________________  

(physical, political, resource, and/or thematic map)    because __________________________________________   __________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________. 

2. If I want to know which country to visit to mine for 

diamonds, I would use a 

______________________________________  

(physical, political, resource, and/or thematic map)    because __________________________________________   __________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________.  

3. If I want to know which countries borders Ghana, I 

would use a ______________________________________  

(physical, political, resource, and/or thematic map)    because __________________________________________   __________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________. 

4. If I want to know where the Nile River is located, I woul

use a ______________________________________  

(physical, political, resource, and/or thematic map)    because __________________________________________   __________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________.  

   

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Who creates maps?  

 Source: https://www.census.gov/history/www/programs/geography/how_we_map.html 

 people who draw maps → CARTOGRAPHERS      

 study of maps → CARTOGRAPHY 

Maps existed in societies in Europe, the Middle East, China, India, and elsewhere as long as 8,000 years ago.The earliest known map t                                           is a wall painting of the ancient Turkish city of Çatal Hüyük which has been dated to the late seventh millennium B.C.E. In the A                                               Exploration from the fifteenth century to the seventeenth century, cartographers copied earlier maps (some of which had been passe                                   for centuries) and drew their own maps based on explorers' observations and new surveying techniques. The invention of the ma                                     compass, telescope, and sextant increased accuracy. 

Source: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cartograp 

1. What is the earliest known map?    

2. Which historical age created great improvements in cartography?    

3. Why might maps have been important to early river valley civilizations and other societies?      

 

6

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cartographyhttps://www.census.gov/history/www/programs/geography/how_we_map.html

How do I read the maps cartographers have created?  

 Source: http://www.howwhywhere.com/Read-a-Map/ 

Cartographers use symbols and features to make maps easier to read. A good way to remember these symbols and features is DOGSTAIL. 

 

D  Date Text identifying when the map was made and/or updated  T Title Text explaining what the map is supposed to portray: what is happening, where, and when 

O Orientation A north arrow is a symbol indicating the direction in which north lies; a compass rose is a symbol indicating the cardinal directions (N, S, E, W)  

A  Author Text identifying the cartographer or organization responsible for making the map 

G  Grid Intersecting lines (called a “coordinate system”) drawon a map to pinpoint location  I Index A listing of the places on the map and where to find them using grid coordinates— either latitude-longitude (77°53’W, 38°02’N)  

S  Scale The relationship between distance on a map and actual distance on the earth  L Legend A guide identifying what the map’s symbols and colors represent 

    S  Sources Text identifying where the map’s information comes from 

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http://www.howwhywhere.com/Read-a-Map/

 

 

 Source: http://cdn.static-economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/original-size/images/2014/11/articles/body/20141122_MAM997.png 

Directions: Respond to the questions on the map and the questions below.   

What type of map is this: [circle as many as apply]  

physical  political 

resource  thematic  

According to this map, which two African countries had the largest change % change in military spending between 2004 and 2013? _____________________    Identify two countries that had the smallest % change in military spending between 2004 and 2013? _____________________     

What story is the author of this map trying to tell about the continent of Africa? _____________________   

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http://cdn.static-economist.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/original-size/images/2014/11/articles/body/20141122_MAM997.png

 

ORIENTATION 

 

How do you know which direction is north on a map? Maps have a compass rose to show where to find: 

NORTH ↑  SOUTH ↓  WEST ←  EAST →  

Directions: Label the compass to your left using the word bank below:  

North* (N) South (S) East (E) West (W)   Northeast (NE) Northwest (NW) Southeast (SE) Southwest (SW

 

 

LEGEND  

Maps use symbols and colors to represent thing             such as geographic features (mountains, river         places (churches, stores), trade routes (Silk Roa           Indian Ocean Complex), events (wars, battles), etc.  

Map Legend 

  

Directions: Below is a fantasy map for an imaginary place1) Using the legend to the left, create a map with the 

symbols in the legend. 2) Create four (4) additional symbols for your map and

also include them in the fantasy map. 

 

9

World Continents, Oceans and Seas  Map Labelling 

 Directions: Using this map, label the continents, oceans and seas to create a political and physical world map.     

 

    

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http://www.mapsofworld.com/images/world-oceans-map.jpg

World Regions: Africa  Map Labelling 

Directions: Using this map, label the regions in Africa. 

 

1

    

   

2    

   

3    

   

4      

5

      

 One major body of water in this region of the world are ____________________________________________________________.  

11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_Africa#/media/File:Africa_map_regions.svg

World Regions: Asia  Map Labelling 

Directions: Using this map, label the regions in Asia . 

 

1     

  

2   

   

3   

    

4     

5     

6  

 TWO major bodies of water in this region of the world is __________________________ and _____________________________.  

12

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Asia#/media/File:Location-Asia-UNsubregions.png

World Regions: Americas  Map Labelling 

Directions: Using this map, label the regions in the Americas. 

 

1

      

   

2

    

     

3

        

   

4

       

 TWO major bodies of water in this region of the world are _________________________ and ______________________________. 

13

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_regions_of_Latin_America#/media/File:Latin_America_regions.svg

World Regions: Europe Map Labelling 

Directions: Using this map, label the regions in the Europe. 

 

1

    

     

2

   

      

3

        

   

4

      

 TWO major bodies of water in this region of the world are _________________________ and ______________________________. 

 

14

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Regions_of_Europe_Map.png