What Can Maps Tell Us About Land and Water on Earth?
What Can Maps Tell Us About Land and Water on Earth?
What Can Maps Tell Us about Land and Water on Earth? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a new curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is aligned to a group of grade 2 standards. It has a focus on earth and space science with a secondary focus on physical science. In this module, students:
- Obtain information about and develop models of the kinds of land and water on Earth
- Plan and carry out an investigation into the properties of solid and liquid water
- Obtain information from models and informational text about the patterns of land, solid water, and liquid water on Earth
- Obtain information from historical maps to determine patterns of how maps represent land and water
- Develop symbols for land and water and create their own legend
- Develop and use a two-dimensional map of their three-dimensional model of land and water
Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.
Library of Congress Geography and Maps Division
The Library of Congress has a digital catalog of over 35,000 maps. They can be sorted by date range, location, and subject.
https://www.loc.gov/maps
Ada Asks Introduction (1:19)
This video introduces students to the module.
Download the Ada Asks Introduction Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Introduction Video
Download the Ada Asks Introduction Video Transcript
Discussion Rules
This file lists several rules for productive discussions between students.
Download the Discussion Rules PDF
Glider Guide
This simulation allows students to virtually visit and explore land and water in the United States. It is available as a website for computers. Download the application for use on tablets and mobile devices.
Play the Glider Guide Simulation
Land and Water at the Smithsonian
This file contains artworks from the Smithsonian Institution that show land and water.
Download the Land and Water at the Smithsonian PDF
Kinds of Water
This file shows the same lake during the summer (unfrozen) and winter (frozen over).
Download the Kinds of Water PDF
Frozen Water Balloon (0:07)
This video shows a frozen water balloon dropping onto another object.
Download the Frozen Water Balloon Video
Download the Accessible Version of theFrozen Water Balloon Video
Download the Frozen Water Balloon Video Transcript
Water Balloon (0:10)
This video shows a liquid water balloon dropping onto another object.
Download the Water Balloon Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Water Balloon Video
Download the Water Balloon Video Transcript
Snow and Ice
This file shows examples of solid water on Earth.
Download the Snow and Ice PDF
Mountain
This file shows a snow-capped mountain surrounded by snow-free terrain.
Download the Mountain PDF
Symbols
This file shows several examples of symbols, including phone icons and emojis.
Download the Symbols PDF
Mediterranean Map
This file is a copy of the map of the Mediterranean from Mapping Earth, part of the Smithsonian Science Stories Literacy Series.
Download the Mediterranean Map PDF
Map Legend
This file shows the map from Lesson 1 with its accompanying legend.
Download the Map Legend PDF
Ada Asks Science Challenge (1:08)
This video introduces students to the Science Challenge.
Download the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video
Download the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video Transcript
Map Monsters
This file contains images of monsters represented in historical maps.
Download the Map Monsters PDF
Types of World Maps
This file shows several projections (or views) of Earth’s surface from NASA’s collection.
Download the Types of World Maps PDF
Kit Tips & Tricks