Based on this physical map, name 1 desert on the continent of Africa:
Based on this physical map, name 1 river on the continent of Africa:
UNIT G1.1.B.4 | The First Civilizations SQ: What are the different types of maps? Page 2
POLITICAL Map
shows political boundaries
Example: Country boundaries, state borders, city names, and capital cities.
Africa: Political Borders & Sovereign Nations Borders, Capitals (★), & Major Cities
ALGERIA Algiers ★
LIBYA Tripoli ★
EGYPT Cairo ★
GHANA Accra ★ • Borders Côte d'Ivoire & Togo
NIGERIA Abuja ★ • Lagos
CHAD / SUDAN N'Djamena ★ / Khartoum ★
D.R. CONGO Kinshasa ★
KENYA Nairobi ★
SOUTH AFRICA Pretoria ★ • Cape Town
Note: Dotted or solid lines indicate sovereign borders established by treaties and governments.
See
Think
Wonder
Based on this political map, name 2 countries in the continent of Africa:
Country 1:
Country 2:
UNIT G1.1.B.4 | The First Civilizations SQ: What are the different types of maps? Page 3
THEMATIC Map
shows specific topics for reference
Example: Natural resources, population density, annual rainfall, climate zones, economic trade.
Mapping Africa's Natural Resources Source: Al Jazeera (CC BY-NC-SA)
NORTHERN REGION (Algeria, Libya, Egypt) Major deposits: Phosphates, Petroleum & Natural Gas
🛢️
WEST & SAHEL REGIONS (Ghana, Mali, Niger) Major deposits: Gold, Uranium, Bauxite, Petroleum
⛏️
CENTRAL & SOUTHERN REGIONS (DR Congo, South Africa) Major deposits: Diamonds, Cobalt, Copper, Platinum, Gold
💎
Resource Legend
Petroleum / Gas
Gold / Uranium
Diamonds / Cobalt
Timber / Agriculture
Coal / Iron Ore
Data layer overlays the map
See
Think
Wonder
Based on this thematic map, name 2 resources on the continent of Africa:
Resource 1:
Resource 2:
UNIT G1.1.B.4 | The First Civilizations SQ: What are the different types of maps? Page 4
Think Like a Geographer
Supporting Question: What are the different types of maps?
1. If I want to know which countries border Ghana, I would use a...
Physical Map Political Map Thematic Map
because...
2. If I want to know where the Nile River is located, I would use a...
Physical Map Political Map Thematic Map
because...
3. If I want to know which African country has the greatest number of professional soccer players, I would use a...
Physical Map Political Map Thematic Map
because...
In 1 sentence, explain why a historian studying early civilizations needs both physical and political maps:
UNIT G1.1.B.4 | The First Civilizations SQ: What are the different types of maps? Page 5
Thematic Fill-in: shows specific topics for reference. | Resources (Accept any 2): Petroleum/oil, Gold, Diamonds, Uranium, Copper, Timber, Natural gas.
UNIT G1.1.B.4 | The First Civilizations SQ: What are the different types of maps? Teacher Guide Page 1
Assessment Scoring & Evaluation
Task Criteria Map Identification + Justification
1. Scenario: Countries bordering Ghana Correct: Political Map
Exemplar Sentence: "If I want to know which countries border Ghana, I would use a Political Map because political maps show human-made sovereign country borders, neighboring nations, and capital cities."
Acceptable Justifications: Mentions boundaries, country borders, nation names, or territorial jurisdiction. Physical and thematic maps do not label legal border separations.
2. Scenario: Location of the Nile River Correct: Physical Map
Exemplar Sentence: "If I want to know where the Nile River is located, I would use a Physical Map because a river is a natural water feature and physical maps show landforms, elevation, and bodies of water."
Acceptable Justifications: Identifies the river as a natural geographic feature. While some political maps outline major waterways, the primary tool for terrain and hydrology is a physical map.
3. Scenario: African country with greatest soccer players Correct: Thematic Map
Exemplar Sentence: "If I want to know which African country has the greatest number of soccer players, I would use a Thematic Map because thematic maps illustrate specific topics, data, and statistics that are not shown on physical or political maps."
Acceptable Justifications: Explains that athlete demographics are cultural/statistical data. Note: If a student selects both Political and Thematic, give credit if they argue they need country outlines to read the data.
Misconception 1: "Rivers are borders."
Students sometimes pick Political Map for the Nile River because rivers can separate countries. Remind them: Rivers exist naturally regardless of human politics; they belong on physical maps.
Misconception 2: "Thematic maps are just political maps."
Because thematic maps often use country outlines, students conflate them. Emphasize: Thematic maps tell a specific data story (resources, population, rainfall).
Sentence Frames (ELL): "I would choose a ___ map because it shows ___, which helps me find ___."
Visual Anchors (IEP): Color code the 3 types: Green for Physical (Earth), Blue for Political (Nations), Yellow for Thematic (Data).
Extension (Advanced): Have students explain how combining a physical map with a thematic rainfall map explains ancient agricultural centers.
UNIT G1.1.B.4 | The First Civilizations SQ: What are the different types of maps? Teacher Guide Page 2
