Module 3: United States on a Map- Social Studies 1A - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will draw a simple outline of their state (or similar area if out of the United States) and find a town within their state. They will draw a simple map of the United States, locate their home state on the United States map, distinguish between different types of maps, and locate the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico on a map. Students will explain how maps are made and what a cartographer does.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 Examine Your State Map state map;
2 Examine U.S. Map USA map;
3 For Further Study: Map Making None

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Examine Your State Map
  1. Draw a simple outline of the state (or similar area if out of the United States).
  2. Find a town within the state.
2 Examine U.S. Map
  1. Draw a simple map of the United States.
  2. Locate their home state on the United States map.
  3. Distinguish between different types of maps.
  4. Locate the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico on a map.
3 For Further Study: Map Making
  1. Explain how maps are made.
  2. Explain what a cartographer does.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
map outline
state
town map
symbols
geography
map
United States
state map
Atlantic Ocean
Gulf of Mexico
cartographer
map making
compass rose
cardinal directions

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Examine Your State Map 6 My State Map Assignment
2 Examine U.S. Map 6 My Country Map Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Examine Your State Map Have your student look at their state map and find the following: Major bodies of water, the city they live in, the capital city, and any other interesting things they can locate.
2 Examine U.S. Map Ask your student to identify different things they can find on a map of the United States. Some things you can have them look for are their state, the states that surround their state, Washington D.C., and key bodies of water within the United States.
3 For Further Study: Map Making Discuss with your student how maps are made.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Examine Your State Map
  1. What can you learn about your state by looking at a state map?
Examine U.S. Map
  1. What can you find on a map of the United States?
For Further Study: Map Making
  1. Who is a cartographer?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question
Examine Your State Map Examine a State Map
  1. What is included on a state map?
  2. What are the blue lines on a state map?
  3. What are latitude and longitude lines?
Examine U.S. Map Navigational Maps
  1. What is a navigational map?
  2. What is the purpose of a road map?
For Further Study: Map Making Map Making
  1. Describe how Joseph makes a map.

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 National Geographic Kids United States Atlas National Geographic Kids NC1190L

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing