SOCIAL STUDIES KINDERGARTEN – PEOPLE AND PLACES Similarities and Differences between Students’ Cultures and Others around the World What Makes Cultures/People Unique? Characteristics that Make a Culture Unique What Are the Similarities/ Differences in the Cultures? Content Vocabulary: culture similarity difference land water symbol map globe geography People and Places How Does Geography Influence How People Live? How Can We Use Maps? Identifying Land and Water Features on a Map and Globe Use of Map Symbols Characteristics of a Map and Globe Essential Understandings/Concepts: Maps are used in geography, the study of places. Maps show places, like land and water, in relation to one another. People use maps to find out where they are and where they are going. The world is made up of many different land forms. People live in many parts of the world and have different languages, shelters, and food.