Today’s Walking Classroom podcast talks about maps and the difference between political and physical maps. A physical map provides information about the geographical features of a place, like rivers and mountains. A political map shows the boundaries that separate cities, states, and countries. When political changes lead to the creation of new boundaries, new maps are created. For example, a political map of North America in 1776 would look very different than a political map of North America today.
Character Value: Reliability
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Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RST.6-8.4
Next Generation Science Standards
PS–Physical Science | LS–Life Science | ESS–Earth and Space Science | ETS–Engineering, Technology and the Application of Science Elementary School: 4-ESS2-2Middle School: MS-ESS2-3
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Physical vs. Political Maps Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Physical vs. Political Maps Slide Deck
Shares an array of interesting world maps.
Explains the differences between political and physical maps.
Demonstrate knowledge of these two different kinds of maps by finding the hidden words.
Learn about maps and how they function by creating a map of the classroom and its non-human contents as seen from above in this activity from the United States Geological Survey.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Science
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Geology, Government