Maps of the world: Junior Scholastic 2006-2007.

How to Read the Maps

Independent countries are in bold capital letters.

Example: UKRAINE

Colonies and trust territories: An area administered by another country under the supervision of the United Nations is shown in italic capital letters. Following, in parentheses, is the name of the country that governs it.

Example: GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (ECUADOR)

Continents: Land that is not part of the featured continent is shown in tan.

Europe/Asia: Europe and Asia share the same landmass, sometimes called Eurasia. Geographers divide the two continents along a line formed by the Ural Mountains, Ural River, Caspian Sea, and Caucasus Mountains. Our maps use a dotted line (as at left) to mark this division.

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* Objectives

Students should be able to:

** glean information from maps and tables.

** use data to support a thesis, an opinion, or an argument.

* Getting Started

** Maps of the World: Review how to use a compass rose, map key, and latitude and longitude.

** World in Focus: (1) Go over the example and terms on pp. 24-25. (2) Review the importance of reading footnotes. (3) Discuss the use and misuse of statistics. (Though useful for making comparisons, they do not tell a whole story. Improperly used, they can mislead or deceive.)

* Background

In 2006, Montenegro became the world's 194th independent nation. Through most of the 20th century, Montenegro was part of Yugoslavia. In 1992, after the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was allied with Serbia. Then last May, 55 percent of Montenegrins voted "yes" to a referendum on independence. Parliamentary elections were held in September.

* Critical Thinking

MAP READING: Kalaallit Nunaat, part of North America, is the world's largest island. What is its more well-known name? To which country does it belong? (Greenland; Denmark)

USING TABLES: What is the title of the head of government of the country where Riyadh is the capital? (A dual title: King and Prime Minister; Saudi Arabia)

* Activity

USE 'EM OR LOSE 'EM: Have students practice map and table skills by completing the reproducible on p. T-8.

STANDARD

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Global connections: From shared borders to major languages spoken, maps and statistics can show numerous connections among the world's nations.

RESOURCES

PRINT

* The New York Times Almanac 200? (Penguin, 200G). Grades G & up.

* Ross, Val, The Road to There: Mapmakers and Their Stories (Tundra, 2003). Grades 6-10.

WEB SITES

* Geography Trivia Games https://www.cia.gov/cia /cia kids/games/geography /index.shtml

* Where in the World future.state.gov/where