Module 1: Geographic Literacy- Social Studies 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to identify and explain the purpose of physical, political, elevation, and population maps, and distinguish between different types of maps. They will compare maps and globes in terms of how distortion affects them, match locations on globes and maps, and list four types of map distortions. Students will learn to identify and interpret basic map elements (coordinate grid, cardinal and intermediate directions, title, compass rose, scale, key/legend with symbols). They will also learn to Recognize, locate, and label the seven continents on a world map, recognize, locate, and label the five oceans on a world map, use the map scale to determine size and distance, and identify different types of scales on maps.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 Types of Maps *Social Studies 3A Workbook, ISBN 978-1-63916-164-5 (optional);
2 Understanding Maps and Globes None
3 Reading a Map None
4 Labeling Maps None
5 Map Scale None

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Types of Maps
  1. Identify and explain the purpose of physical, political, elevation, and population maps.
  2. Distinguish between different types of maps.
2 Understanding Maps and Globes
  1. Compare maps and globes in terms of how distortion affects them.
  2. Match locations on globes and maps.
  3. List four types of map distortions.
3 Reading a Map
  1. Identify and interpret basic map elements (coordinate grid, cardinal and intermediate directions, title, compass rose, scale, key/legend with symbols).
4 Labeling Maps
  1. Recognize, locate, and label the seven continents on a world map.
  2. Recognize, locate, and label the five oceans on a world map.
5 Map Scale
  1. Use map scale to determine size and distance.
  2. Identify different types of scales on maps.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
political map
population map
physical map
elevation map
map key
distortion
map
globe
accuracy
cartographer
map title
compass rose
map scale
coordinate grid
continent
ocean
scale
distance
graph scale
verbal scale
representative fraction scale

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
3 Reading a Map 6 Complete the Map Assignment
4 Labeling Maps 5 Label the Map Assignment
5 Map Scale 6 Use a Map Scale Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Types of Maps
2 Understanding Maps and Globes After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the difference between a map and a globe, what map distortion is, and the types of distortion.
3 Reading a Map After completing this lesson, ask your student to identify the basic elements of maps. If possible go to a local library or bookstore and look at various atlases with your student asking them to identify the elements of maps they learned about in this lesson.
4 Labeling Maps After completing this lesson, ask your student to name the continents and the oceans of the world and have them show where they are on a world map.
5 Map Scale After completing this map, ask your student to explain how to use a map scale, if possible get an atlas and have your student use the map scale on different maps in the atlas to find distances on the map.

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 do you know about maps?
Understanding Maps and Globes
  1. What is a globe?
Reading a Map
  1. How can you read a map?
Labeling Maps
  1. Where are the continents and the oceans?
Map Scale
  1. What is a map scale?

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!: A First Book of Mapping Skills Scot Ritchie
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