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PlayOwl

Geography · Grade 4

Compare Thematic Maps

A thematic map shows one theme, such as landforms, borders, people, climate, land use or resources. Learners choose the right map for a question, read a shaded map's key and sort real 2020 census populations into its classes, compare two maps of a made-up region to find a pattern, and learn that two matching patterns do not prove that one causes the other. They finish by writing a careful, evidence-based claim.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 85 minutes
  • Thematic maps check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, pick map regions, match pairs and type a number
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Identify physical, political, population, climate, land-use and resource maps and choose the map that answers a question.
  • Read a shaded (choropleth) map's key and sort data values into its classes.
  • Compare two thematic maps or data sets of the same place and describe a pattern or relationship with evidence.
  • Explain that matching patterns do not prove that one thing causes another, and write a careful claim that names other possible factors.

Lessons

  1. One theme per map 7 steps4 practiceabout 20 min
  2. Reading a shaded map 8 steps4 practiceabout 20 min
  3. Comparing two maps 8 steps4 practiceabout 22 min
  4. Matching patterns and careful claims 7 steps4 practiceabout 18 min
  5. Thematic maps check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Globe ExplorerSpin a real 3D globe, flip to the flat map, and find continents, oceans and countries.
  • Pin the PlanetDrag the pin onto wonders, cities and exact latitude and longitude points.
  • Mapmaker QuestFollow directions to make a map, then read its legend, compass rose and scale.

More 4th grade geography

Guide for grown-ups