What is meant by "advanced map and globe skills"?

[TrixieB]

I was looking at the World Book Curriculum Guide. Under Social Studies, they list "advanced map and globe skills" for grades 7-9. For the lower grades, they list "map and globe skills". Any idea what is meant by these definitions?

 

I have not bought any geography or map workbooks for my kids (grades 3 and 6). They have looked up locations on world wall maps and in atlases. We've looked at population distribution maps and other non-political-type maps. What other map and globe skills should I be teaching? Would workbooks help?

[Julie in MN]

My son takes the Iowa Basics each year & they include mapping skills. By that, they mean identifying direction (n, s, e, w), hemispheres, and following directions along a simplistic street map (where would you be if you went 1 block north and turned right).

 

However, he felt the 7th grade test was the same one he's been seeing since 3rd grade!

 

But if it were *me* then I would step it up as far as knowing where countries are on a blank map, knowing terms such as isthmus, and understanding longitude/latitude & time zones. Things like that. Maybe even start to know capitals of states & countries. Etc.

 

Julie

[TrixieB]

My son takes the Iowa Basics each year & they include mapping skills. By that, they mean identifying direction (n, s, e, w), hemispheres, and following directions along a simplistic street map (where would you be if you went 1 block north and turned right).

 

However, he felt the 7th grade test was the same one he's been seeing since 3rd grade!

 

But if it were *me* then I would step it up as far as knowing where countries are on a blank map, knowing terms such as isthmus, and understanding longitude/latitude & time zones. Things like that. Maybe even start to know capitals of states & countries. Etc.

 

Julie

Based on our family's experience, they probably ARE the same mapping skills questions. Last year my dd said (about a math question), "I remember this question from last year... and I think it was on the test the year before that." It didn't stop her from giving the wrong answer AGAIN. :rolleyes:

 

Two years ago dd used MFW ECC so she covered latitute/longitude, geography terms, country locations. We've discussed time zones. So it sounds like "advanced mapping skills" would just expand on what she's already worked on.

 

Thanks, Julie!

[mcconnellboys]

In most of the various map skills books we've used over the years, the more advanced work generally includes a lot more use of latitude/longitude to find various locations; use of time zone maps for the world; international date line info; sometimes work with historical maps (sometimes layering those with later periods for the same area of the world); and topographical maps seem to be becoming more used, as well.