Types of Maps and Map Scale - Learn How to Read and Use Maps
From Miacademy Learning Channel · 2025
7 min1st2nd3rdSocial Studies
Summary
Learners see that there are many kinds of maps — some show borders and cities, others show mountains and rivers — and each is useful for a different job. The lesson also introduces map scale, which helps you tell how far apart real places are.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Use these after watching to talk through the social studies idea in the video.
- Can you name two different kinds of maps? What does each one show?
- What does a map's scale tell you?
- When would a map of roads be more helpful than a map of mountains?
Quick work-a-long
Words to know: map, scale, political, physical, distance.
Try it: Look at a map and use its scale to guess the distance between two places. Then say which kind of map you used.