Social Studies: Understanding Maps Physical and Political
Learning how maps show land, water, cities, and borders
Social Studies: Understanding Maps Physical and Political
Learning how maps show land, water, cities, and borders
Social Studies - Grade 2-3
- 1
A map shows mountains, rivers, lakes, and deserts. Is this mostly a physical map or a political map?
Physical maps show land and water features.
This is mostly a physical map because it shows natural features of Earth, such as mountains, rivers, lakes, and deserts. - 2
A map shows states, countries, capital cities, and borders. Is this mostly a physical map or a political map?
Political maps often show borders and cities.
This is mostly a political map because it shows places people have named or divided, such as states, countries, capital cities, and borders. - 3
Look at a map with a blue line labeled River Bend. What does the blue line most likely show?
The blue line most likely shows a river because rivers are often shown as blue lines on maps. - 4
On a political map, a star symbol is placed next to the city name Pine City. What does the star most likely mean?
Many maps use stars to show capital cities.
The star most likely means that Pine City is a capital city or another important city. - 5
Name one natural feature that might be shown on a physical map.
One natural feature that might be shown on a physical map is a mountain. Other correct answers include a river, lake, ocean, desert, or valley. - 6
Name one human-made or human-named feature that might be shown on a political map.
One feature that might be shown on a political map is a state border. Other correct answers include a country border, city, capital city, or county. - 7
A map key shows that a triangle means mountain. On the map, three triangles are near the west side. What does this tell you?
Use the map key to understand what each symbol means.
This tells me that there are mountains near the west side of the map. - 8
A map has a compass rose with N, S, E, and W. What direction does N stand for?
N stands for north on a compass rose. - 9
On a map, Lake Green is south of Hill Town. In which direction would you travel from Hill Town to reach Lake Green?
South is often shown at the bottom of a map.
You would travel south from Hill Town to reach Lake Green. - 10
A physical map uses dark brown to show tall mountains and light green to show low land. Which color shows the taller land?
Read the color key to learn what each color means.
Dark brown shows the taller land because the map uses that color for tall mountains. - 11
A political map has a thick black line between two states. What does the thick black line most likely show?
The thick black line most likely shows a border between two states. - 12
Why would a traveler use a map key?
A map key explains what map symbols mean.
A traveler would use a map key to understand the symbols and colors on the map. - 13
A student wants to find the Rocky Mountains on a map. Should the student use a physical map or a political map? Explain your answer.
Mountains are natural features.
The student should use a physical map because the Rocky Mountains are a natural landform. - 14
A student wants to find the border between Canada and the United States. Should the student use a physical map or a political map? Explain your answer.
The student should use a political map because borders between countries are shown on political maps. - 15
Look at a simple map with a river, a mountain, a state border, and a capital city. Write one feature that belongs on a physical map and one feature that belongs on a political map.
Physical means nature, and political means borders, cities, and governments.
A river or mountain belongs on a physical map because it is a natural feature. A state border or capital city belongs on a political map because it shows how people name or divide places.