Grade 2 Social Studies: Maps, Globes, and Directions
Free Grade 2 Social Studies unit on Maps, Globes, and Directions: 10 lessons in order. Includes practice questions and answer keys.
10 lessons in this unit
What is a map?
Explain that a map is a flat drawing of a place seen from above, show that maps can be of rooms, schools, communities, countries or the world, identify map features (title, symbols, key, direction, scale idea), and use a simple map to answer questions.
Lesson 2What is a globe?
Explain that a globe is a model of Earth, compare a globe with a flat map (shape, distortion, convenience), identify land and water on a globe, and locate the equator, poles and our country on a globe.
Lesson 3Map symbols
Recognise and use common map symbols (points for places, lines for roads and rivers, areas for lakes and forests), use colour conventions (blue water, green vegetation, brown highland), and design symbols for a class map.
Lesson 4Map keys
Read and make a map key (legend) with symbols and meanings, check that a key is complete, clear and consistent, use the key to answer questions about a map, and compare keys on two different maps.
Lesson 5Cardinal directions
Name and use the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) and the intermediate directions (northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest), use a compass rose and a simple compass, and give directions between places on a map.
Lesson 6Land and water
Identify land and water on maps and globes, name common landforms (hill, mountain, plain, island) and bodies of water (river, lake, sea, ocean), and explain how land and water shape where people live.
Lesson 7Continents introduction
Name the seven continents (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America), find them on a globe or world map, identify the continent where Sierra Leone is, and recognise that continents hold many countries and peoples.
Lesson 8Oceans introduction
Name the five oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, Arctic), find them on a globe or world map, identify the ocean beside Sierra Leone (Atlantic), and describe how oceans connect the world and provide food, travel and climate.
Lesson 9Locating our country
Locate Sierra Leone on a globe and map by naming its continent, region (West Africa), neighbours (Guinea and Liberia), ocean (Atlantic) and capital (Freetown), and describe its location using directions; learners from other countries locate their own.
Lesson 10Drawing community maps
Plan and draw a simple map of the school or community showing a title, symbols, key, compass rose and labels from a bird’s-eye view, and check it with a partner against the real place.