Unit 13 — Maps and Geography

Welcome back!

Every place on Earth has a location.

People use maps and globes to understand where places are and how to travel from one place to another.

Today we will learn more about geography—the study of places on Earth.

What Is Geography?

Geography is the study of Earth and the places where people, plants, and animals live.

Geography helps us understand:

• mountains
• rivers
• oceans
• deserts
• forests
• cities
• countries

It also helps us understand how people live in different environments.

Maps

A map is a drawing of an area.

Maps help us find:

• roads
• parks
• schools
• rivers
• cities
• countries

Different maps are designed for different purposes.

Globes

A globe is a small model of Earth.

Unlike a flat map, a globe shows Earth's round shape.

Globes help us see:

• continents
• oceans
• the North Pole
• the South Pole

A globe gives us a better picture of our planet.

Directions

Maps use directions to help us travel.

The four main directions are:

• North
• South
• East
• West

Many maps also include:

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Southeast
• Southwest

Knowing directions makes maps easier to use.

Map Symbols

Maps use symbols to represent real places.

For example:

• ★ might represent a capital city.
• ✈ might represent an airport.
• 🚗 might represent a road.
• 🌲 might represent a forest.

A map key explains what each symbol means.

Continents and Oceans

Earth has seven continents:

• Africa
• Antarctica
• Asia
• Australia
• Europe
• North America
• South America

Earth also has five oceans:

• Pacific Ocean
• Atlantic Ocean
• Indian Ocean
• Arctic Ocean
• Southern Ocean

Together they cover our planet.

Activity

Look at a map or globe.

Find:

• your state
• your country
• one ocean
• one continent

Then identify which direction is north.

Practice

Answer these questions.

What is geography?

What is the difference between a map and a globe?

Name the four main directions.

What is a map key used for?

Name three continents.

Name two oceans.

Review

Today you learned:

• geography is the study of places on Earth
• maps and globes help us understand locations
• directions help us travel
• map symbols represent real places
• Earth has seven continents and five oceans

Geography helps us understand both our own community and the wider world.

Looking Ahead

Next we will learn about communities and citizenship.

We will discover how people work together to build safe, healthy, and successful communities.