Map Skills3rd Grade Geography

Standards AddressedSS3G1 The student will locate major topographical features.

a. Identify major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson.

b. Identify major mountain ranges of the United States of America: Appalachian, Rocky.

Types of Maps

There are 3 basic types of maps:

1. Physical Map2. Political3. Resource

Physical Map

A physical map is a

map that shows

elevation, rivers,

landforms, and bodies

of water in a specific

area.

Political Map• A political map show

boundaries of

countries, states,

counties, and the

location of major cities.

• They usually include significant bodies of water. Bright

colors are often used to help the user find the borders.

Resource Map

A resource map showswhat sort ofnatural or agricultural resources, such as crops or minerals, there are in a certain area. The amount of a resource is shown by a picture symbol. The bigger The symbol, the more of the resource there is!

Parts of a Map

There are many maps that we use, but they all have one or more of these basic parts:

1. Map scale2. Legend/Map Key3. Compass4. Title

Compass Rose

The compass rose

is included on a map to help

the user with the cardinal directions

(North, East, South, and West)

in relation to the map.

Map Key/LegendA map key or legend as it is often called tells what

the symbols on a map represent.

Map Scale

Maps cannot be the same size as the objects are in reality or they would notfit on the page! Therefore we use scale to show the real distances between places by making everything smaller.

Map TitlesMap titles tell you what you are looking at.

Example:

Major Rivers of the United StatesThere are 5 major rivers of the United States:Mississippi River, Colorado River, Rio Grande, Ohio River and the Hudson River.Rivers help people in the U.S. meet their needs. They use river water for crops, drinking water, moving goods, and for having fun!

Mountains of the United StatesThe Rocky and Appalachian Mountains are found in the United States.The Rocky Mountains is the largest mountain range in the country located in the western part of the U.S. The rockies pass through northern New Mexico and into Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. The Appalachian Mountains located west of the Atlantic Coastal Plain run from Maine (north) to Georgia (south). They aren’t as high as the Rockies.