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Geography · Grade 5

Build a Comparative Atlas

The Grade 5 capstone. Learners plan and build a comparative atlas of Canada and Mexico, the United States' two neighbors: a locator map, physical and climate pages, population and economy pages, and a comparison page with conclusions backed by rounded data and a clear limit. They choose the right map or graph for each question, use coordinates, scale, density and climate data from the whole year, and then transfer the process to a new pair of countries, Australia and Brazil.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 100 minutes
  • Comparative atlas check: Australia and Brazil: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, highlight a text, pin a map, 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

  • Plan a comparative atlas: choose the pages, the right map or graph for each question, and reliable sources.
  • Locate and compare the physical geography of two countries (landforms, water, biomes and climate) using maps and data.
  • Compare the human geography of two countries (population, density, cities, languages and economy) using rounded data and rates.
  • Draw and write conclusions about how two places are alike and different, supported by evidence and with a limit.

Lessons

  1. Plan the atlas 7 steps4 practiceabout 22 min
  2. The physical pages 8 steps4 practiceabout 26 min
  3. The human pages 8 steps5 practiceabout 26 min
  4. Compare, conclude and publish 7 steps4 practiceabout 26 min
  5. Comparative atlas check: Australia and Brazil 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 5th grade geography

Guide for grown-ups