Curriculum

How Can We Map Land and Water On Earth?

Pilot How Can We Map Land and Water On Earth?

How Can We Map Land and Water On Earth?

How Can We Map 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 designed to address a bundle of grade 2 earth and space science standards. In this module, students:

Compare maps from different cultures and historical periods.
Observe patterns that can be used to categorize the shapes and kinds of land and water on Earth.
Conduct an investigation into the observable properties of solid and liquid water.
Obtain information about where solid water can be found on Earth.
Use what they have learned about patterns as evidence to describe the types of land and water one could expect to find in a particular place on Earth.
Develop and compare maps of the land and water in a particular place on Earth.

Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.

Lesson 1: What Is a Map?

Family Letter
Before starting How Can We Map Land and Water on Earth? share the Family Letter with students’ caregivers. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Download the Family Letter PDF

Ada Asks Introduction (1:42 minutes)
Ada introduces students to the phenomenon driving Lessons 1–8. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.

Watch Ada Asks Introduction on YouTube

or Download the Ada Asks Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Video
Download the Ada Asks Video Transcript

Lesson 2: Kinds of Land

Ada’s Park
This file shows the four images of Ada’s park that she introduced to the students in the Ada Asks video.
Download the Ada's Park PDF

Lesson 4: Ice Hunt

Mountains
This file shows images of mountain ranges from around the world.
Download the Mountains PDF

Earth from Space (January)
This file shows the January satellite image from the Earth from Space card.
Download the Earth from Space (January) PDF

Earth from Space (August)
This file shows the August satellite image from the Earth from Space card.
Download the Earth from Space (August) PDF

Lesson 5: Kinds of Water

Ada’s Voicemail (0:57 minutes)
This audio file introduces students to the sound of a body of water that Ada can hear but not see from her campsite.
Download the Ada's Voicemail Audio

Lesson 6: What a Relief!

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

Lesson 7: What Are the Patterns of Land and Water on Earth?

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.
https://ssec.si.edu/glider-guide

Lesson 8: Legend-ary Maps

Symbols and Legends
This file shows a mountain landscape and corresponding illustrative map with a legend.
Download Symbols and Legends PDF

Lesson 9: A Map for Ada Part 1

Ada Asks Science Challenge (1:16 minutes)
Ada introduces the students to the module science challenge. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.

Watch Ada Asks Science Challenge on YouTube