1. Unit 2 Lesson 4 www.citizenshipcurriculum.org
Special Purpose Maps
Unit 2 Lesson 4

2. Content Expectations
4 - G1.0.5: Use maps to describe elevation, climate, and patterns of population density in the United States.

3. Density Elevation square mile
Graphic Organizer
SPECIAL
PURPOSE
MAPS
Population
Density
Elevation
Climate
Temperature
Precipitation
Factors
Influencing Climate
Height
above
sea level
People
per
square mile

4. Big Ideas of Lesson 4, Unit 2
Big Ideas Card
Big Ideas of Lesson 4, Unit 2
Special purpose maps show characteristics of an area such as elevation, climate, and population density.
Elevation is the how high a place is above sea level.
Climate is weather over a long period of time.
The climate of an area is influenced by many factors including how close the area is to a large body of water, how far it is from the equator, and the elevation of the area.
Population density is the number of people living in a certain area.
Elevation, climate, and population density vary a great deal in the .

5. the height of a area above sea level
Word Cards
Word Cards from previous lessons needed for this lesson:
Physical Characteristics – Word Card #2 From Lesson 2
Human Characteristics – Word Card #1 from Lesson 3 1
special purpose maps
maps that show characteristics of an area such as land use, population density, or natural resources
Example: Studying special purpose maps can help you better understand a region. 2
elevation
the height of a area above sea level
Example: The elevation of an area affects climate and vegetation.

6. 3
climate
weather over a long period of time
Example: The has many different climate regions. 4
precipitation
water that falls to the ground as rain, sleet, hail or snow
Example: Many areas of the get a lot of snow as the main form of precipitation.

7. how hot or cold the air is 6 population the number of people5
temperature
how hot or cold the air is
Example: In some areas of the temperatures are very cold. 6
population
the number of people
Example: The population of is much larger than the population of . 7
population density
the number of people living in a
certain area
Example: The population density is greater in urban than rural areas. 2
metropolitan area
a large city and the surrounding areas including towns, other cities, and suburbs
Example: There are many metropolitan areas in the .

8. 7
population density
the number of people living in a
certain area
Example: The population density is greater in urban than rural areas. 2
metropolitan area
a large city and the surrounding areas including towns, other cities, and suburbs
Example: There are many metropolitan areas in the .

9. Describe the map.

10. The topography of a place refers to both human and natural characteristics.
“special purpose map”
Special purpose maps help geographers focus on a particular aspect of the topography.

11. Look at the elevation map
Look at the elevation map. Think about what specific data or information the map shows.

12. Geographers use special purpose maps to help them learn more about places, allowing them to focus often on a single theme or topic about a place’s topography.
This lesson will relate to three different special purpose maps.

13. Elevation is a physical characteristic of a place and refers to how high a place is above sea level.

14. Map makers often use color to show elevation
Map makers often use color to show elevation. Turn and talk with a partner to draw conclusions about the United States.

15. Possible conclusions include:
• The western part of the U.S. has more areas of high elevation than the east.
• The mountains in the western part of the U.S. are higher than those in the eastern part.
• There is an area of low elevation between the mountains in California.
• Coastal areas in the eastern part are of lower elevation than coastal areas in the Western Part.
• Some states like Florida have very low elevation.

16. Answer the following question in your learning log:
How might elevation impact a place?

17. Possible answers include:
• Farming would be difficult in an area of high elevation.
• It is hard to build roads in areas of high elevation.
• Areas of low elevation are prone to flooding.
• Cities are easier to build in areas of low elevation.

18. <

19. How is color used in this map
How is color used in this map? What appears to happen to temperature as you move further to the north?

20. Latitude affects temperature.

21. Why do Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains areas appear to have lower average temperatures than other places that are about the same distance from the equator?

22. Elevation affects temperature.

23. Look at northern Washington
Look at northern Washington. Why does this area have milder temperatures than other southern areas?

24. Being near large bodies of water like the ocean can affect temperature
Being near large bodies of water like the ocean can affect temperature. This is like the lake effect studied about the climate of Michigan in third grade.

25. Latitude affects climate
Latitude affects climate. Elevation affects Climate Large bodies of water affect climate.

26. Describe the general pattern of temperature for Alaska and for Hawaii.
Alaska and Hawaii Annual Mean Daily Temperature Maps
Describe the general pattern of temperature for Alaska and for Hawaii.
Source: Annual Mean Daily Average Temperature Map for Alaska. 22 Sept <
Source: Annual Mean Daily Average Temperature Map for Hawaii. 22 Sept <

27. Alaska and Hawaii Annual Mean Daily Temperature Maps
Predict what the elevation and land features of various islands are by using the temperature map.
Compare predictions to the relief map of Hawaii located at this website: <
Source: Annual Mean Daily Average Temperature Map for Alaska. 22 Sept <
Source: Annual Mean Daily Average Temperature Map for Hawaii. 22 Sept <

28. In general, where are the wettest places in the United States?
Alaska and Hawaii Annual Mean Daily Temperature Maps
In general, where are the wettest places in the United States?
In general, where are the driest places?
How does precipitation west of the Mississippi River compare with that east of the River?
What patterns of precipitation exist in the United States?
What patterns of precipitation exist on the Hawaiian Islands?
Source: Annual Mean Daily Average Temperature Map for Alaska. 22 Sept <
Source: Annual Mean Daily Average Temperature Map for Hawaii. 22 Sept <

29. Climate Climate refers to weather over a long period of time.
Temperature and precipitation maps help geographers to understand about climate in the United States

30. Average monthly temperature (°F)1
Climate Data for Selected Cities
(Data rounded to nearest whole number)
City
Average monthly temperature (°F)1
Precipitation
Snowfall2
Jan.
April
July
Oct.
Average annual
Average
annual
(in.)
(in.)1
(days)
Albuquerque, N.M. 36 56 79 57 9 60 11
Anchorage, Alaska 16 58 34
115 71
Atlanta, Ga. 43 62 80 63 50 2
Boston, Mass. 29 48 74 54
127
Cheyenne, Wyo. 26 42 68 45 15
100
Chicago, Ill. 22 73 52
125 38
Denver, Colo. 51 89
Detroit, Mich. 25 33
135 41
Duluth, Minn. 8 39 66 44 31
134 81
Fargo, N.D. 7 21
101
Helena, Mont. 20 95 47
Honolulu, Hawaii 76 18 96
Houston, Texas 69 84 70
105
trace
Jackson, Miss. 64
110 1
Las Vegas, Nev. 91 4
Los Angeles, Calif. 61 67 13 35
Miami, Fla. 59
131
New Orleans, La. 53 83
114
New York, N.Y. 32 77
121
Phoenix, Ariz. 93 75
Portland, Maine 46
129
Salt Lake City, Utah 17
Seattle-Tacoma, Wash. 65 37
155
Sioux Falls, S.D. 14 98
Tulsa, Okla. 10
Vero Beach, Fla. 72 82
126
Washington, D.C.
113
Wichita, Kan. 30 55 85
Wilmington, Del.
117

31. Charts and graphs are also used by geographers to understand climate.
•How does the climate of Albuquerque, New Mexico differ from that of Detroit?
•What two cities have very similar climates?
•What appears to be the coldest city?
•What appears to be the hottest city?
Order the given set of data, find the median, and specify the range of values.

32. What they think this special purpose map represents?
ADCDCDGGCCDVBBNNNNNNNNNNVVVVVVN

33. The bright areas on the map relate to where lights are shining in the United States at night.

34. There are usually more lights in urban areas than rural areas
There are usually more lights in urban areas than rural areas. What population patterns can be seen on the map?

35. What population patterns can be seen on the map?

36. Possible answers include:
•Coastal areas tend to have a lot of people.
•The U.S. has several large cities and metropolitan areas.
•There are fewer people in the western part of the United States.
•There is a huge population center in the Northeast.
•Alaska does not have many people.
•One of the Hawaiian Islands has a lot more people than the others.

37. Compare the Metropolitan Map with this map
Compare the Metropolitan Map with this map? Locate specific cities on both maps.

39. Population Density This term refers to the number of people living in a certain area, usually a square mile. The average population density of the United States is about 80 people per square mile, but as the two maps show, there are great differences in population density across the country.

40. Historians are also interested in population-based maps
Historians are also interested in population-based maps. Draw conclusions based on map.
Exploration and Settlement

41. Draw conclusions about the population of the United States during this time period.
Exploration and Settlement

42. Possible answers include:
•People lived mainly east of the Mississippi River.
•In some areas like Florida there were very few settlers.
•There were not many cities.
•Only the area around Detroit had been settled in Michigan.

43. What differences they notice from the previous map?
EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT

44. •People had moved westward.
•The areas of settlement had grown a lot.
•People had moved westward.
•People had settled along the Pacific coast.
•People were not settled in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
•People had begun to settle in Florida, but most of Florida still had few settlers.
•There were more cities now.

45. • How are the maps alike and different?
• How do the various maps help us better understand the geography of the United States?
• How are the maps alike and different?
• In what ways are the maps related?

46. What are three conclusions you can draw from this map?
Assessment
What are three conclusions you can draw from this map?

47. Areas of high elevation get a lot of snow.
Assessment – Sample Answers
Areas of high elevation get a lot of snow.
A snowfall map can be used to show where areas of high elevation are.
New York gets more snow than Michigan.
Some areas of the do not get any snow. For example, Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico do not get snow.
Areas along the Great Lakes get a lot of snow.
The western part of the United States gets more snow than the eastern part.
There are some areas in the Southwest that get as much snow as Maine.

48. Student Resource
Interactive United States Elevation Map. 7 October 2008 <
Relief Map of Hawaii. 7 October 2008 <
Teacher Resource
Climate Data For Selected Cities. 7 October 2008 <
Climate Maps of the United States. 7 October <
Egbo, Carol. Supplemental Materials (Unit 2, Lesson 4).Teacher-made material. Michigan Citizenship Collaborative, 2008.
Exploration and Settlement: Map. 7 October 2008 <
Exploration and Settlement: Map. 7 October 2008
<
The Geographic Face of the Nation: Elevation. 7 October 2008 <
The Geographic Fact of the Nation: Elevation 56” X 36” Poster. Product ID Number $7.00. Can be ordered online at:  < or by calling ASK-USGS.
Metropolitan Areas of the United States Map. 7 October 2008 <
Population Density Map. 7 October 2008 <
Population Density Map High Resolution Version. 7 October 2008 <
United States Population Density Map and Information. 7 October 2008 <