Map Skills & Landforms Watertown-Mayer Elementary Grade 4

Social Studies – Session 1 Standards: 5A.I.1 – Concepts of Location – Locate major mountain ranges & rivers (Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River) 5C.IV.1 –Physical Features and Processes– Describe major physical features of the US (Great Lakes, Pacific & Atlantic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, Great Basin, Coastal Plains, Coastal Range, Great Plains) 5E.I – Essential Skills – Demonstrate the ability to obtain geographic information from a variety of print and electronic sources. (Compass Rose, Scale, Atlas, Thematic Maps) Day 1: Pretest – blank map of US…locate and label … Great Lakes, Pacific & Atlantic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, Great Basin, Coastal Plains, Coastal Range, Great Plains Unit PowerPoint– whole group discussion Day 2: Unit PowerPoint Practice locating places using maps in front of Social Studies book or large desk maps Day 3: Assessment – observation as labeled – use spreadsheet as checklist Review location of Great Lakes, Pacific & Atlantic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, Great Basin, Coastal Plains, Coastal Range, Great Plains Students label these on map of US Day 4: Continue labeling locations on map Draw compass rose on map Day 5: Color map Label Great Lakes, Pacific & Atlantic Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, Great Basin, Coastal Plains, Coastal Range, Great Plains Make flags to label - Appalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi River, Great Basin Day 6: Complete coloring and labeling Begin 3D land form creation Day 7: Finish 3D land form creation Use markers to color landforms after dry Day 8: Assessment – Label landforms on blank US map Complete landform map Table of Contents

Table of Contents Landform Pretest Map Skills Practicing our map skills Create a Physical Map Coloring your map Make your map 3-D Summative Assessment Unit Outline

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Label the Following Landforms: Lake ErieLake HuronLake MichiganLake OntarioLake Superior Pacific OceanAtlantic OceanGulf of Mexico Mississippi River Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains Coast RangesCoastal PlainsGreat Plains Great Basin Table of Contents

Map Skills Table of Contents

What is a map? A map is a representation, usually on a flat surface, of the features of an area of the earth or a portion of the heavens, showing them in their respective forms, sizes, and relationships according to some convention of representation. Now what does that mean? Table of Contents

A map is a representation, A map is a drawing or model usually on a flat surface, of a round Earth on a flat surface, of the features of an area of the earth that shows the landforms (mountains, rivers, etc.) or a portion of the heavens, or part of the sky in a particular region, showing them in their respective forms, sizes, and relationships drawn to scale according to some convention of representation. using an accepted form of drawing or model. Table of Contents

Types of Maps There are three basic types of maps: PHYSICAL POLITICAL and THEMATIC. Table of Contents

Physical Maps Physical maps show the natural features of the Earth. Physical maps do not contain man made features. For example, a physical map would be a map of what you would see if you were looking down on Earth from space. Table of Contents

When you look at this map, what do you see? Notice you do not see country borders or city markings. These divisions are created by people. For example, there is no actual line dividing Texas from its bordering states. Although some astronauts (with the use of binoculars believe it or not) are able to see roads, large ocean tankers, and even the Great Pyramids from space, at very high altitudes, none of these are visible and all you are left with are natural land formations. Table of Contents

Political Maps Unlike physical maps, political maps show how humans have impacted the landscape. For example, city names, roads, country borders, etc. are all part of political maps. Political maps change frequently (physical maps change very, very slowly through geologic processes) and must be redrawn often. A political map of the world that is 50 years old is no longer accurate. Wars and ethnic conflict are two major causes political maps change. Table of Contents

Political Maps Table of Contents

Thematic Maps Thematic maps can represent a variety of information including things like climate, precipitation, vegetation, elevation, population, life expectancy, etc. Thematic maps are generally used when you are looking at a single piece of information. Table of Contents

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Map Components Title Grid Compass Key or Legend Scale Table of Contents

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Compass A compass is a tool that helps the user know what direction one is headed. On a map, a compass or a compass rose helps the user locate these directions. Table of Contents

Compass Rose The needle on a compass is magnetized to point to the earth's north magnetic pole. Thus with a compass, a person can roughly tell which direction they are headed. There are four major or cardinal directions on a compass- north, south, east & west. In between are the directions northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest. Direction Quiz Source: Table of Content s

Directions The cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. The intermediate directions are northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. They help describe the location of places in relation to other places. Table of Contents

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Scale Table of Contents

To help us review basic geographic terms that are used to create grids, we will play a game. Table of Contents

Creating a Physical Map You are now going to create a Physical map. Look at the list of major United States landforms. Locate them on your map (use your Social Studies book or a desk map) Label them neatly Table of Contents

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Label the Following Landforms: Lake ErieLake HuronLake MichiganLake OntarioLake Superior Pacific OceanAtlantic OceanGulf of Mexico Mississippi River Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains Coast RangesCoastal PlainsGreat Plains Great Basin Table of Contents

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA When you finish labeling and coloring your map, make small flags for the mountain ranges and Great Basin. Table of Contents

Now that your physical map is labeled and colored, we can make it 3-Deminsional. When you get your mixture: 1.Use a small amount along the Mississippi River. It should have texture, but should be flat. 2.Form your mountain ranges. 3.Put a small glob where the Great Basin is and use your finger to make it into a bowl. 4.Use a small amount to create texture along the coastal plains. 5.Slightly raise the area for the coastal range 6.Use the toothpick end of your flag to poke a hole in the mountain ranges and the Great Basin. Tomorrow we will glue your flags into place. Table of Contents

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Label the Following Landforms: Lake ErieLake HuronLake MichiganLake OntarioLake Superior Pacific OceanAtlantic OceanGulf of Mexico Mississippi River Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains Coast RangesCoastal PlainsGreat Plains Great Basin Table of Contents Summative Assessment