Which map is best?

Friday September 2, 2011

Mercator• Good for showing directions especially

near the equator

• Distorts the size of continents especially near the poles

Eckert IV• Good at showing size of continents

• Distorts shape especially near the poles

Goode’s Homolosine• Good for showing continents size

• Distorts oceans

Physical Maps• Shows natural

landmarks like mountain ranges, rivers, lakes and deserts.

• Usually continents are green and yellow.

• Can show cities or state lines, but doesn’t need to.

Political Maps• Shows cities, states,

capitals.

• Colors do not usually mean anything and are different so that a person can easily see the different states, countries or continents.

Topographic Maps

• Shows elevation

• The lines on the map represent different elevations

• Are good to use if you are hiking.

Thematic Maps

• Give the reader information about certain subjects/ themes.

• ALWAYS have a legend that explains the information.

• Title of the map tells you what subject/ theme you are learning about.

5 Steps• Step 1- review the situation• Step 2- consider what you need out of a map

in this situation• Step 3- match up your needs with the

benefits of certain maps. • Step 4- review other maps and answer the

question why would I not use this map in this situation?

• Step 5 explain why you choose the map (how does this map benefit this situations) in a few sentences.

Situation 1• Javion wants to find out what city is the capitol of

Nebraska. What kind of map should he use? Why? Why should he not use another map?

• Step 1- review situation• Step 2- I need a map to show me the capital of

Nebraska.• Step 3- political maps show state capitals• Step 4- topographic maps and thematic maps would

not be helpful because they do not show state capitals• Step 5- Javion should choose to use a political map if

he wants to find out the name of the capital of Nebraska. He should use this map because political maps show cities, capitals and state lines. He should not use a topographic or thematic map because they do not show state capitols.

Situation 2• Kwesi wants to know if Australia is bigger than Europe.

What kind of map should he use? Why? Why should he not use another map?

• Step 1- review situation• Step 2- I need a map to show me the size on each

continent.• Step 3- Goode’s Homolosine projections accurately show

the size of continents• Step 4- Mercator projections should not be used because

they distort size. • Step 5- Kwesi should choose to use the Goode’s

Homolosine projection if he wants to find out if Australia is bigger than Europe. He should use this projection because it accurately shows the size of continents. He should not use a Mercator map projection because Mercator maps distort size.

Guided Practice

• 1. Ruby wants to know the distance between New York City and London. She needs the distance to be exact! Which map should she use? Why? Why should she not use another map?

• 2. Katia and Fernada are working on a homework assignment. They want to compare the size of Asia and South America. Which map should they use? Why? Why should they not use another map?

• 3. Jose wants to learn the names of all of the state capitals. Which map should he use? Why? Why should he not use another map?

• 1. Kenneth is planning to go on a hiking trip he wants to climb a mountain that is at least 14,000 feet tall. Which map should he use? Why? Why should he not use another map?

Independent Practice

Weekly Quiz• 1. Which kind of map projection is the picture

below? • 2. What do political maps show?• 3. Jordan wants to compare the number of people

who live in Denver to the number of people that live in other parts of Colorado. What kind of map should he use? Why? Why should he not use another kind of map?

• 4. Catalina is doing a homework assignment where she needs to compare the size of each continent. Which map should she use? Why? Why should she not use another map?