2.6 : Maps

Maps

Maps help us visualize the Earth's surface by representing locations, landforms, and important details. They are essential for navigation, exploration, and studying various aspects of the environment. Different types of maps serve different purposes.

• Road Maps- show roads, cities, and highways using a scale and legend for interpretation
• Political Maps-display country and state borders
• Satellite Maps- provide aerial views of landscapes from space
• Topographic Maps- use contour lines to show elevation and landforms
• Geologic Maps- indicate different rock types and formations
• Weather Maps- represent temperature, rainfall, and other atmospheric conditions

Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Maps contain valuable information. By studying weather maps, population maps, or topographic maps, you can identify patterns, such as regions with the highest rainfall or areas with dense populations.

Science Tasks:

• Observe a weekly weather map to track how conditions change over time and record patterns in temperature and precipitation.
• Compare two different types of maps, such as a road map and a topographic map, and note how they depict the same area in different ways.

Questions to Consider While Exploring:

• Why do different maps represent the same place in different ways?
• How do maps help people make decisions about travel and weather?

Crosscutting Concept (CCC): Scale, Proportion, and Quantity

Maps shrink large areas into a smaller format, making them easier to study. A neighborhood map might display every street, while a world map focuses on continents and oceans. Scale is essential in maps, as it indicates the relationship between distances on the map and real-world measurements. For example, a scale of 1:10,000 means that 1 unit on the map corresponds to 10,000 units in reality.

Maps also use symbols to represent different quantities. For example, larger dots on a population map may indicate bigger cities, while weather maps use color gradients to show temperature variations.

If you have ever used GPS to find a location, you have relied on maps for navigation. Understanding scale, proportion, and quantity in maps allows us to explore everything from small towns to entire planets. By studying and creating maps, you can begin thinking like geographers and learn how these tools shape our understanding of the world.