EQ: How does one distinguish between the different types of maps?
7.3.spi.14. Distinguish between types of maps. (i.e., political, physical, climatic, land-use resource, contour, elevation, and topographic).
Activating Strategy:
Students will be asked to list 5 reasons they would need a map. Students will be asked how they know which one
to use for different types of information. Which one should I look at to determine what resources an area has?
Climate? Elevation?
Teaching Strategies:
- Students will make a flipbook on the different types of maps and record notes from the PowerPoint. (Need 4
sheets of paper.)
After we complete our notes on the first two maps, students will break up into teams and do a pair/share activity.
- AP #1: Pair/Share: “Describe a political map. When would you use a political map?" “Describe a physical
map. Why would someone need to use a physical map?"
- AP #2: A note to a student moving here from another country: "What kind of map would I look at to find out the
weather in Tennessee?" "How would a topographical map help me find out if my new house is on a hill or in a
valley?“
- AP #3: Compare and contrast with a Venn Diagram: “How is a contour map similar and different from that of
an elevation map?’
- Students will complete the Maps Handout.
Summarizing Strategy:
Ticket Out the Door
Students will number 1-11 on a sheet of paper and will be instructed to look at pictures from the last 11 slides of
the Power point to determine whether each picture is political, physical, climatic, land-use resource, contour,
elevation, topographic, or a combination of more than one.
Homework:
Finish the Map Handout if not completed in class.
Why do you use maps?
Think of 5 reasons that you would need a
map (so I know where I am going is not an
answer I want you to have on your list.)
How do you
distinguish between
different types of
maps?
SS. Standard: 7.3.spi.14. Distinguish
between types of maps. (i.e., political,
physical, climatic, land-use resource,
contour, elevation, and topographic).
Political Maps
• Usually colored by country or by state
• Political colors make it easy to compare
size, shape, and location
• Bold letters often make the country names
stand out
• Symbols make it easy to tell capitals from
other cities
• Political maps also name certain physical
features, such as rivers and lakes
World Political Map
Physical Map
• Has colors that make natural patterns stand
out
• The colors on the map can stand for types
of vegetation, mountain, and natural
features
• Names of big natural features are easy to
see
• Physical maps also include some political
information, such as boundaries
World Physical Map
Pair/Share
• 1’s tell 2’s • 2’s tell 1’s
• Describe a • Describe a
political map. physical map.
• When would • Why would
you use a someone
political map? need to use a
physical map?
Climate Map
• The climate of a place is the weather
it has season by season, year after
year
• Rainfall and temperature are climate’s
main ingredients
• Climate is affected by elevation,
distance from the ocean, and latitude
World Climate Map
Land Use Resource Map
These maps show how land is
being used. This might refer to:
• vegetation
• crops being grown
• forest vs. Agriculture
• mines and wells
• city zoning
Topographic Map
These maps generally represent a
small area with a lot of detail. They
show elevation with contour lines,
natural and man-made features.
Topographic Map
A new student is moving to Tennessee and is
curious about a few things. Please write him a
one paragraph letter answering his questions.
• What kind of • How would a
map would I topographical
look at to find map help me
out the find out if my
weather in new house is
Tennessee? on a hill or in a
valley?
Contour maps
Contour lines
represent the
elevation at that
line. If you
were to walk
across a line,
you
are changing
elevation.
Contour map
Elevation Maps
Maps that
show
elevation
change by
using color or
shading.
Elevation Map
• What is the average elevation of
most of our state?
Elevation Map of Tennessee
Elevation Map
Elevation Map
How is a contour map similar and different
from that of an elevation map?
Contour map Elevation map
Ticket out the Door
Please number 1-11
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
• 1. Elevation and/or Physical
• 2. Political
• 3. Physical
• 4. Elevation and/or Physical
• 5. Climatic
• 6. Topographical
• 7. Contour
• 8. Political
• 9. Elevation and/or Physical
• 10. Contour
• 11. Land-use resource map
