Module 12: Introduction to Maps- Social Studies 2 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to identify types of maps: political, physical, and thematic, and analyze which maps would be best for different scenarios. They will apply map symbols to answer questions and apply absolute and relative location skills to answer map questions. Finally, they will create a map of their hometown that includes places they often visit (friend’s house, park, grocery store, library, etc.)

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 Types of Maps None
2 Read a Map None
3 Absolute and Relative Locations None
4 Project: My Community Map ruler;

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Types of Maps
  1. Identify types of maps: political, physical, and thematic.
  2. Analyze which maps would be best for different scenarios.
2 Read a Map
  1. Apply map symbols to answer questions.
3 Absolute and Relative Locations
  1. Apply absolute and relative location skills to answer map questions.
4 Project: My Community Map
  1. Create a map of their hometown that includes places they often visit (friend’s house, park, grocery store, library, etc.)

Module Key Words:

Key Words
political map
physical map
thematic map
features
compass rose
legend
scale
absolute location
relative location

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Types of Maps 5 Types of Maps Assignment
2 Read a Map 5 Map Symbols Assignment
3 Absolute and Relative Locations 5 Absolute or Relative? Assignment
4 Project: My Community Map 2 My Community Map Project

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Types of Maps After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain what a political map, physical map, and thematic map are. If possible go to a local library and have them find examples of each type of map.
2 Read a Map After completing this lesson, if possible go to a local book store or library with your student and look at different atlases. Ask your student to identify the different symbols on the maps in the Atlas.
3 Absolute and Relative Locations After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the following: location, absolute location, and relative location, and ask them to give examples of where they are located using absolute and relative location.
4 Project: My Community Map After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain what a community map would include and help them brainstorm what to include in a map of their community.

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
Types of Maps
  1. What types of maps are there?
Read a Map
  1. What do the symbols on a map mean?
Absolute and Relative Locations
  1. What is location?
Project: My Community Map
  1. What is included in a map of a community?

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

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 Follow That Map! Sheri Tan
2 There's a Map on My Lap!: All About Maps Tish Rabe

Module Outing:

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

# Outing