Geography

A Suggested Curriculum for Geography for grades K-6

Map Skills are compiled from the Core Knowledge Sequence. Alternatively, you could just follow the skill progression found in a map skills book or series.

My apologies for any errors!

OVERVIEW

GRADE	MAP SKILLS	AREA TO STUDY	LISTS TO MEMORIZE/ LOCATIONS
K	Maps and globes Rivers, lakes, and mountains, and their representation North, South poles	Name and locate own state on map of U.S., and own country on map of world	7 continents 4 oceans
1st	Maps have legends/keys with symbols and their uses North, East, South, West Equator Northern, Southern hemispheres North, South poles	Name and locate own continent, country, state, and town	Canada, U.S., Mexico, Central America The 50 States Gulf of Mexico; Great Lakes
2nd	Maps have legends/keys with symbols and their uses North, East, South, West Equator Northern, Southern hemispheres North, South poles Begin country reports	Geography of Central and South America	World Rivers
3rd	Maps have legends/keys with symbols and their uses North, East, South, West Equator Northern, Southern hemispheres North, South poles Measure straight line distances using a bar scale How to use an atlas Country reports	Geography of Africa	World Deserts
4th	Measure distances using map scales Read maps and globes using longitude and latitude; coordinates; degrees Time zones: Prime Meridian (0 ); Greenwich, England; 180 line (International Date Line) Relief maps: elevations and depressions Country reports	Geography of Europe	World Mountain Ranges and Peaks
5th	Read maps and globes using longitude and latitude; coordinates; degrees Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn: relation to seasons and temperature Climate zones: Arctic, Tropic, Temperate Time zones: Prime Meridian (0 ); Greenwich, England; 180 line (International Date Line) Arctic Circle (imaginary lines and boundaries) and Antarctic Circle From a round globe to a flat map: Mercator projection; conic and plane projections Country reports	Geography of Asia, Australia, and Oceania	World Lakes
6th	Read maps and globes using longitude and latitude; coordinates; degrees Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn: relation to seasons and temperature Climate zones: Arctic, Tropic, Temperate Time zones: Prime Meridian (0 ); Greenwich, England; 180 line (International Date Line) Arctic Circle (imaginary lines and boundaries) and Antarctic Circle Country reports	Geography of North America (emphasize Canada and United States)	50 capitals Provinces of Canada World Islands

The last two columns, for 2^nd through 6^th grade, are meant to be rotated, such that all students in that age group learn the same geographical information during the same school year. The five cycles can be done in any order. The last two columns are not related, so they can be switched around as well.