Objectives:
To interpret maps by using symbols found in the map legend. Symbols are the dots, lines and patterns used to represent natural and people-made features on maps.
Materials Needed:
A pencil and your map.
Lesson
Maps Represent the World
A map is a drawing created to represent the world or a part of the world's surface. Maps show where physical or natural features, such as lakes and mountains, are found. They also show where human or political features, such as cities and country boundaries, are located.
Symbols are used to represent the features shown on maps.
Map makers do not want people to guess about the meaning of symbols used on maps. For this reason most maps include a key or legend. The map legend lists the symbols used on the map and tells us what the symbols represent. Examining the map legend will help you understand the meaning of the symbols used on that map.
Look at the map of the United States. Find the legend. The legend lists some of the symbols used on the map. It also explains what these symbols mean.
Dot Symbols
The United States map legend shows that four dot-like symbols are used to represent the locations and population of cities.
Use the four dot population symbols found in the United States map legend to answer the following questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Are there any cities in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, or Oklahoma with a population of over 1,000,000? ________________________________________
What is the largest city in Arizona? ______________________________________
What Texas cities have more than 1,000,000 people? ____________________________________________________________
What Texas city has a population of 500,000 to 1,000,000 people? _____________________
What are the two largest cities in Arkansas? ____________________ and ____________________
What are the two largest cities in South Carolina? ____________________ and ____________________
What are the three largest cities in New Mexico? ____________________ ____________________ ____________________
What are the two largest cities in Idaho? ____________________ and ____________________
List the three cities in Washington with populations of more that 50,000 people? ____________________ __________________ __________________
Line Symbols
The United States legend shows that several different line symbols are used to represent canals, dams, country boundaries and state boundaries. For example, country boundaries are represented by red lines made up of one long dash and two short dashes. State boundaries are represented by red lines made up of one long dash and one short dash.
Use the state boundary symbol in the United States map legend to answer the following questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
What eight states share a common boundary with Tennessee? List them in alphabetical order. __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________
Six states share a common boundary with Iowa. List them in alphabetical order. __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________
List in alphabetical order the six states that share a common boundary with Idaho. __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________ __________________
What two states do not touch any other state? __________________ __________________
State Capitals
The United States map legend shows that a city with its name underlined and a star in the population symbol. The example used in the legend is shown below.
*Indianapolis
Use the state capital symbol found in the United States desk map legend to answer the following questions. Write the name of the state capital in the space next to the name of the state.
13. North Dakota ___________________ 18. Illinois ___________________
14. South Dakota ___________________ 19. Kansas ___________________
15. Georgia ___________________ 20. Oregon ___________________
16. Pennsylvania ___________________ 21. Hawaii ___________________
17. Vermont ___________________ 22. California ___________________
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