Map Skills Teacher Resources

This is both a great idea and a great way to help your class organize a themed project. They use these worksheets to assist them in writing a creative historical narrative about the life and travels of an explorer. They'll compare and...

Introduce you map scale and ratios lesson with this informative video. A student demonstrates how to properly use a scale on a map, as well as read a topographic map. This is a fantastic video to show during your map unit!

Flat maps and globes are described in this short video. Students share the differences between the two using helpful props and demonstrations.

Students plot earthquakes on a map. For this lesson on earthquakes, students will explore recent earthquake activity in California and Nevada. Students will plot fault lines and earthquake occurrences on a map.

Here is a simple assignment that will introduce your young geographers to location, one of the five themes of geography, through an activity in which they map the directions and lines of latitude/longitude of where they live. 

During the first century of Chinese Ming dynasty (1368-1644), the government sent out a total of seven voyages into the Indian Ocean. Young historians will discuss, explain, role play, and compare the decisions made by rulers during the...

Young scholars determine Earth's deepest trench, outline continents, major ocean mountains, and trenches on color-key map using Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, identify oceans' geographic features, locate significant oceanic features...

Students explore the ancient civilization of Mali and examine various historical and cultural aspects of the civilization. In this ancient civilization of Mali lesson, students examine trade with respect to geographic locations, discover...

Challenge your class with this lesson plan focusing on the fifty states. Learners use ArcMap to show the route the main character in the story Journey of Oliver K. Woodman took across the United States. Then, they write journal...

GPS has become a tool most people rely on to find locations, but how does it work? Two young travelers interview a NASA scientist to find out how GPS was developed, how it works, and what it can be used for. A good video for learners who...

Students study maps and use web based activities to develop their mapping skills. In this mapping skills lesson, students use the internet to define cartography they make a list of information regarding a typical road map and explain the...

Young scholars work in small groups to practice basic map skills. They take turns giving directions and tracing a path from one location to different destinations on the map.

In  this getting to know Germany worksheet, students use map skills (map not included) to answer 14 questions, then draw a map of Germany labeling the capital and major cities.

Students listen to the fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, and participate in various map skill activities. They manipulate magnetic tortoises and hares on metal cookie sheets to practice direction, and construct racing tortoises out of...

Students choose a map and follow directions to get to the zoo. In this physical education and map skill instructional activity, students follow a color map to get to the zoo. Students walk, jump or use other movement skills to reach the...

Fourth graders use the computer program 'Pixie' to create a topographic, detailed map for the state they live in. In this mapping skills lesson, 4th graders use Pixie to make a map of their state that includes topographic features, state...

In this map worksheet, learners use a map and key to complete a set of 7 questions. Answers are included on page 2, questions focus on miles and direction. 

First graders create a map and display an understanding of the cardinal directions. In this map skills lesson, 1st graders listen to stories where a map would come in handy, create their own map, and use the cardinal directions accurately.

Students study state maps. In this map skills activity, students identify the states' location and how to use a legend. Students complete photocopies of the state map.

Students demonstrate how to locate features on a Landscape Picture Map. In this map skills lesson, students locate and circle places where they would go to mail a letter, return a library book, or play a baseball game.

Students investigate the geography of the Northeast states. In this map skills lesson, students are shown a map of the Northeast states and identify the state names and borders. Students construct individual maps of the Northeast using...

Students explore basic map skills. In this United States geography lesson, students define "country" and "state," locate their state on a United States map, and identify and trace state boundaries defining their state and surrounding...

Students explore map skills. In this state capital lesson, students view a United States Political Map and identify and use post-it notes to label the state capitals.

Students develop their map skills. In this geography lesson, students participate in an activity that requires them to survey their social studies book in order to find different types of maps and purposes for their uses.