Maps at Different Scales: Locating Cultural and Environmental Features
Maps at Different Scales: Locating Cultural and Environmental Features is a free, printable Grade 4 Social Studies worksheet — 6 questions with an answer key, aligned to C3 D2.Geo.3.3-5. Lessonpress generated it in about a minute, and you can make your own for any K–5 grade, standard, or skill.
Use maps of different scales to describe the locations of cultural and environmental characteristics (C3 Framework, Geography)
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- 1.
This map shows the contiguous United States. Four major rivers and mountain ranges are marked with letters. Use the compass rose and what you know about physical geography to answer: which labeled feature (A, B, C, or D) is located in the western part of the country near the Pacific coast?
Answer: Feature A, the Sierra Nevada, is located in the western part of the country near the Pacific coast.
- 2.
A small-scale map and a large-scale map are two tools geographers use to show location. Fill in the table to compare these two types of maps across each feature.
Answer: Area shown: Small-Scale shows a large area (country or continent); Large-Scale shows a small area (city or neighborhood). Amount of detail: Small-Scale has less detail; Large-Scale has more detail. Best used for: Small-Scale is best for seeing where regions or countries are located; Large-Scale is best for finding specific streets, landmarks, or local features. Example: Small-Scale example is a map of the United States; Large-Scale example is a map of a town or city.
- 3.
Priya wants to find out which states border the Great Lakes. Which type of map would be MOST helpful for this task?
Answer: A small-scale map of the entire United States
- 4.
Omar is planning a hiking trip in a national forest. He has two maps: one shows the entire western United States, and the other shows only that national forest in great detail, including trails, rivers, and campsites. Explain which map Omar should use to plan his actual hike, and which map he should use to understand where the forest is located in the country. Give a reason for each choice.
Answer: Omar should use the detailed large-scale map of the national forest to plan his actual hike because it shows the trails, rivers, and campsites he will need. He should use the small-scale map of the western United States to understand where the forest is located in the country because it shows a large area and allows him to see the forest in relation to states and other features around it.
- 5.
When a map shows a large area such as an entire continent with very little detail, it is called a ___ map.
Answer: small-scale
- 6.
Mei notices that a map of her city shows her school, the public library, a nearby river, and several parks. A second map shows the entire state and only marks a few major cities. Explain how the same river might look different on each of these two maps. Use the words 'scale' and 'detail' in your answer.
Answer: On the large-scale city map, the river would appear wider and more detailed, and you could see its curves, the parks along its banks, and maybe bridges over it. On the small-scale state map, the river would appear as a thin line or might only show a small part of it, because the scale is smaller and there is less detail shown. The scale of a map determines how much area it covers and how much detail it includes.
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What grade is the "Maps at Different Scales: Locating Cultural and Environmental Features" worksheet for?
Grade 4. It's calibrated to the Grade 4 reading load and content, and aligned to C3 D2.Geo.3.3-5.
What standard does this Social Studies worksheet cover?
C3 D2.Geo.3.3-5, from the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards: Use maps of different scales to describe the locations of cultural and environmental characteristics (C3 Framework, Geography)
Is this worksheet free to print or download?
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