Enhanced Scope and Sequence - Virginia Department of Education ...

Grade 3
Session 5: Identification of the Parts of a Map _________________________________________
Materials
World map that contains a title, legend, and compass rose
Sample maps that contain a title, legend, compass rose, and intermediate directions
Aerial/satellite photographs of the state, country, and/or continents of the world
Flat maps of the same areas shown in the aerial/satellite photographs
Instructional Activities
1. Define and locate the following parts of a map:
Title—The name or kind of map
Map legend—A list of shapes and symbols used on a map, with an explanation of each
Compass rose—A symbol that shows direction (north, east, south, and west) on a map
Intermediate directions—northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest
2. Explain to students that a map is a drawing that shows what places look like from above and where they are
located.
3. Ask students to close their eyes and pretend they are in a space shuttle. With their eyes still closed, ask them
to imagine looking down on the Earth from the sky. Have them describe what the Earth looks like from the
shuttle. What details can they see (e.g., oceans, land, continents)? Using an overhead or computer projection,
show students aerial/satellite photographs of a state, country, and/or continent of the world. Have them
compare an aerial/satellite image to a flat map of the same area. Ask them to locate places (e.g., cities, bodies
of water, mountains) on both the aerial/satellite image and the map. Ask them what the differences are
between a satellite image of a place and a flat map of the same place (e.g., no title, legend, compass, visible
borders, labels, or symbols on a satellite map). Discuss briefly the uses of satellite maps of Earth (e.g.,
weather forecasts, environmental studies, land planning, surveillance).
Web sites with aerial/satellite images include the following:
U.S. Geological Survey.
―Maps and Globes.‖ National Geographic.
.
GESource World Guide. .
4. Use available classroom maps to review the parts of a map. Discuss why the title, map legend, and compass
rose are important to the person reading a map. Ask what problems the map reader could have if there were
no title, no map legend, or no compass rose.
2010 History and Social Science Standards of Learning Enhanced Scope and Sequence
Virginia Department of Education 10