monday: spatial patterns on maps

Unit Plan: Spatial Patterns on MapsLesson Plan for MondayGrade: 2nd gradeSocial Studies Strand: Geography

Submitted By: Neo Sequeira

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social ScienceNevada State College – Spring 2014Instructor: Karen Powell

Lesson Plan for Monday Strand: Geography submitted by: Neo Sequeira

B. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This social studies lesson is designed for 2nd grade students to learn about spatial patterns on maps, specifically political and physical. This lesson uses a globe, political and physical maps of the Earth, Europe and Nevada, Venn diagrams, and the Physical and Political Maps Activity worksheet.

C. Basic Information: Grade Level: 2nd grade Time to Complete this Lesson: approximately 50 min. Groupings:

o Whole group- model physical & political map of the world with Venn diagram and Nevada physical & political map

o Independent & Partners- Physical and Political Maps Activity worksheet

D. Materials: Globe Online political & physical map of the world

o Physical- http://education.randmcnally.com/pdf/edpub/RMC_World_Physical4.pdf

o Political- http://education.randmcnally.com/pdf/edpub/World_Political_Adv.pdf

Printable political and physical maps of Europe (1 of each for every 2 students), Side by Side physical and political map of Nevada (examples at bottom of lesson) Venn Diagram sheets (for each student- at bottom of lesson) Physical and Political Maps Activity worksheet (1 for each student- found at

http://www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/lapatterson/files/PPMapActivity.pdf)

E. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards

G5.2.2 Recognize spatial patterns, i.e., political units, physical features, on a map and globe.

o Student-Friendly Standards G5.2.2 I can recognize spatial patterns, like political and physical, on a

map and globe.

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2


F. Vocabulary Spatial patterns– an arrangement of objects on Earth. Map– a picture that represents Earth’s surface. Globe– a sphere that has a map on it; it represents Earth. Political map– shows state and national boundaries and capital and major cities. Physical map– shows the physical features of an area, such as the mountains,

rivers and lakes.

word 2 – student-friendly definition

G. Procedure: 1. Begin by using a globe and telling students that this represents Earth. Show them

the continents and bodies of water. Explain to them how you have to spin the globe to find a specific place. Tell students they can think of a globe as a sphere with a map on it.

2. What’s a map? Ask students if they know what maps are. Once you have had a few answers tell them it is a picture that represents Earth’s surface and there can be different kinds. Hand out the Venn diagrams to each student. Show students the online physical and political maps.

3. Start by showing the physical map. Explain and show to them that physical maps show things like country borders, major cities, bodies of water and locations of landforms like deserts, mountains, plains, rivers and lakes. Explain and show to them the land elevations. Tell them the physical map shows the names of the continents. Using your own Venn diagram, write a list of characteristics of physical maps and have students write the same on their own Venn diagram.

4. Next show the political map. Explain and show to them that political maps show state and national boundaries, and capital and major cities. Tell them the political map shows the names of countries. Using your own Venn diagram, write a list of characteristics of political maps and have students write the same on their own Venn diagram.

5. Now open both maps so they are side-by-side. Ask students what is the same between the two maps. They should answer with things like they show oceans, major cities, and borders. Using your own Venn diagram, write a list of similar characteristics between political and physical maps and have students write the same on their own Venn diagram.

6. Students will now answer questions using the Physical and Political Map Activity worksheet and the physical and political maps of Europe. Go over the instructions on the worksheet and tell students to complete the worksheet by themselves first and then check their answers with a partner (someone next to them).



H. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding?

I will use the Physical and Political Activity worksheet and the closure to measure students’ understanding.

Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. Students must “recognize spatial patterns such as political units and physical features on maps”. Identifying features on physical and political maps and similarities between the two correctly will show students understand the spatial patterns on maps.

I. Closure: Using a political and physical map of Nevada side by side, ask students questions. They will write their answers big on the back of their worksheet. Point to a map and ask “What kind of map is this? Political or Physical?” Students must not yell out their answers, only write it out and not show it to anyone. When everyone is done, students lift up their paper to show the teacher and other students. Choose two students to explain their answer (if possible choose one that is right and one that is wrong). Repeat for the next map. Lastly, give them the answers and briefly explain why.

J. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach?

The easiest part for me to teach will be using the Venn diagrams, properly labeling it and writing in the information in the correct space.

2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? The most challenging part for me to teach will be explaining physical and political maps without confusing the students and without going to in-depth by explaining all physical features since it wouldn’t be grade appropriate.

3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson?I will follow up this lesson with the following day’s lesson of identifying symbols and titles on maps.

4. What can you do for students who don’t grasp the concepts?For students who don’t grasp the concept I can explain to them that a physical map has features that are visible to people like the color of someone’s hair or eyes, while a political map has features that aren’t visible to people like the hobbies someone likes to do. If time I can have them to do a Personal Map Activity in class or to take home. Idea from: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Physical-Maps-and-Political-Maps-Personal-Map-Activity-580806



5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change?Now open both maps so they are side-by-side. Ask students what is the same between the two maps. They should answer with things like they show oceans, major cities, and borders. Using your own Venn diagram, write a list of similar characteristics between political and physical maps and have students write the same on their own Venn diagram.

6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part?The most difficult part of writing the lesson was finding activities that corresponded to the standard, filled up the time limit and writing out the procedures clearly and detailed.



Name ________________________________ Date_______________________ Maps and Globes - Physical and Political Maps Activity

Physical maps- show country borders, major cities and significant bodies of water. Physical maps also show the location of landforms like deserts, mountains, plains, rivers and lakes. These types of landforms are not included on political maps. The water is usually shown in blue. Colors are used to show differences in land elevations. Green is typically used at lower elevations, and orange or brown indicate higher elevations.

Let’s look at a physical map.

Look at the physical map. What do you see?

1. Name 4 countries you see on this physical map?

a. __________________________________

b. __________________________________

c. __________________________________

d. __________________________________

2. Name 1 sea that is shown on this map.

___________________________________________



Turn page over to learn about Political MapsPolitical maps- do not show physical features. Instead, they show state and national boundaries and capital and major cities. A capital city is usually marked with a star within a circle. Political maps usually include significant bodies of water.

Think about what you saw on the physical map, and now look at the same countries on the political map.

3. What are 2 things that are different about the political and physical maps?

a. ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

b. ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

4. What are 2 things that you see are the same on both maps?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

5. What do the stars show on the maps?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



Physical Map



Political Map


monday: spatial patterns on maps

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