Types of Maps
Types of Maps
Teaching:
Students will create a blank booklet. They will cut out and paste definitions of
various types of maps as they are introduced in the power point. They will then
cut out and paste an example map for each type.
Various maps will be posted and numbered around the room. Students must
identify each type of map.
Hw: Elevation Map worksheet 20-C & Determining Elevation wkst & Types
of Map wkst
How are different
types of maps
distinguished?
Political Maps
Usually colored by country or by state
Political colors make it easy to compare
size, shape, and location
Bold letters often make the country names
stand out
Symbols make it easy to tell capitals from
other cities
Political maps also name certain physical
features, such as rivers and lakes
World Political Map
Physical Map
Has colors that make natural patterns
stand out
The colors on the map can stand for types
of vegetation, mountain, and natural
features
Names of big natural features are easy to
see
Physical maps also include some political
information, such as boundaries
World Physical Map
Climate Map
The climate of a place is the weather it has
season by season, year after year
Rainfall and temperature are climates
main ingredients
Climate is affected by elevation, distance
from the ocean, and latitude
World Climate Map
Land Use Resource Map
These maps show how land is
being used. This might refer to:
vegetation
crops being grown
forest vs. Agriculture
mines and wells
city zoning.
Contour maps
Contour lines
represent the
elevation at that
line. If you
were to walk
across a line,
you
are changing
elevation.
Contour map
Elevation Maps
Maps that
show elevation
change by
using color or
shading.
Elevation Map