Map Basics
This is a drawing that shows an area on a small scale, usually viewed from above.
What is a Map?
This feature on a map displays directions such as North, South, East, and West.
What is a Compass Rose?
The United States is located on this continent.
What is North America?
Located in Alaska, this is the tallest mountain peak in the United States
What is Denali?
The wearing down of rock or soil over time by wind, water, or weather.
What is Erosion?
Found at the top or bottom, this states what the map shows, including its location and main focus.
What is the Map Title?
North, South, East, and West are known as these types of main directions.
What are Cardinal Directions?
This country borders the United States to the north, and this country borders it to the south.
What are Canada (north) and Mexico (south)?
Located in California, this spot is the lowest point in the United States at -282 feet.
What is Death Valley?
A low area of land located between mountains or hills.
What is a Valley?
This component of a map (also called a key) explains what the symbols, colors, and lines mean.
What is a Map Legend (or Map Key)?
Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest belong to this category of directions.
What are Intermediate Directions?
The ocean bordering the U.S. West Coast is the Pacific Ocean, and this ocean borders the East Coast.
What is the Atlantic Ocean?
Giant slabs of rock beneath Earth's crust that crash together over time to build mountain ranges.
What are Tectonic Plates?
A deep, narrow valley surrounded by steep rock walls carved over time by water erosion.
What is a Canyon?
These are small pictures or drawings on a map used to represent real-world features like rivers, mountains, or capitals.
What are Symbols?
This map tool shows how distances on a map compare to real-life distances.
What is a Map Scale?
This U.S. region is known as the "nation's breadbasket" due to its rich farmland and agriculture.
What is the Midwest?
A flat area of land that rises high above surrounding land with steep sides.
What is a Plateau?
These massive bodies of salt water cover about 70% of the Earth's surface.
What are Oceans?
This tiny map is drawn in the corner of a larger map to show where an area is located on a bigger scale or to provide a zoomed-in view.
What is an Inset Map?
If a map scale shows that 1 inch = 50 miles, two cities that are 3 inches apart on the map are this far apart in real life.
What is 150 Miles?
Name the three branches of the U.S. national government and who leads or heads each one.
What are the Executive (President), Legislative (Congress), and Judicial (Supreme Court) branches?
An area of land completely surrounded by water that is often formed by underwater volcanoes.
What is an Island?
A large, natural stream of fresh water that flows into an ocean, lake, or another body of water.
What is a River?