Map Essentials Doodle Notes Day 1 Note-Taking
MAP ESSENTIALS
Grab your colored pencils and sketch along with the lesson!
Name:
Date:
1
Compass Rose
Label the 4 cardinal directions (bold boxes) and the 4 intermediate directions (dashed boxes). Then color the star!
N
S
E
W
__
__
__
__
Definition:
2
Map Key / Legend
What is the purpose of a map key? Complete the doodle symbols below by sketching your own meanings!
A Map Key tells us:
= Capital City
🌊
= ____________
🌲
= ____________
▲
= ____________
3
Types of Maps
Learn the three core types of maps. Fill in the descriptions and color the sketchy mini-diagrams!
⛰️ PHYSICAL MAP
Shows natural land features.
Shows: Mountains, , , and elevation.
⛰️🌊 Sketch!
🗺️ POLITICAL MAP
Shows human-made borders.
Shows: Countries, , and borders.
🏢🏳️ Sketch!
📊 THEMATIC MAP
Focuses on a specific theme.
Examples: Weather, , or .
☀️🌡️ Sketch!
💡
Quick-Check: If a map shows population density, what type of map is it? ________________
6th Grade Social Studies • 6.G.1.1 UNIT 1 • DAY 1
Map Essentials Slides Day 1 GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY UNIT
Standard: 6.G.1.1
Let's Explore
Map Essentials & Symbols
Learn the essential tools every modern explorer needs to read, navigate, and decode any map in the world.
🔑 MAP KEYS
🧭 COMPASS ROSE
🗺️ MAP TYPES
Swipe or click next to begin • Slides 1/5
Tools The Navigation Compass
Vocabulary: Compass Rose
The Compass Rose
Cardinal Directions These are the 4 main directions: North (N), South (S), East (E), and West (W).
Intermediate Directions These are the points in between: Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW).
Explorer Hint
"Never Eat Shredded Wheat" to remember clockwise!
Get ready to label this on your Doodle Notes! Slides 2/5
Decoding Reading Symbols
Vocabulary: Map Key & Legend
Map Key & Legend
Maps are miniature models of the giant world. Since we can't draw real-size trees or buildings, we use symbols !
🔑
The Map Key Explains what each symbol, line pattern, or shaded color represents on the map.
Can you decode these symbols?
⭐
SYMBOL Capital City
〰️〰️
SYMBOL Rivers & Streams
⛺
SYMBOL Campsite
✈️
SYMBOL Airport
What custom symbols could you invent for your local school?
Key components unlocked: Compass and Key. Next up: Map Types! Slides 3/5
Map Types Physical vs. Political vs. Thematic
Standard: 6.G.1.1
Three Maps, Three Different Jobs!
Geographers choose their map based on what problem they need to solve.
⛰️
PHYSICAL MAPS
Show the natural physical landscape of the Earth. Includes mountains, rivers, valleys, and oceans.
USE CASE Planning a mountain hiking expedition.
🏳️
POLITICAL MAPS
Show governmental boundaries. Includes borders of countries, states, counties, and cities.
USE CASE Finding where the US border ends and Mexico begins.
📊
THEMATIC MAPS
Show specific, specialized information or themes, such as climate, population, or resources.
USE CASE Tracking average yearly rainfall in South America.
Which map type is best for finding your state capital? Slides 4/5
Day 1 Review Explorer Challenge
Wrap-Up Activity
🧠 Map Master Quiz
Test your survival knowledge before you start today's worksheet! Discuss these questions with a peer:
What intermediate direction lies between South and West?
If you wanted to study rainfall patterns in Africa, what type of map would you open?
Why can't we just draw maps with 100% realistic shapes and sizes?
Independent Practice
Time to Dive In!
Make sure your Map Essentials Doodle Notes sheet is fully filled out and colored.
Open up your Map Practice Worksheet . complete the tasks individually or in pairs!
Ready for Day 2: The Global Grid & Gridlines!
Excellent work today, Global Explorers! Slides 5/5
Map Essentials Worksheet Day 1 Lab Sheet
MAP MASTER CHALLENGE
Apply your map reading skills to solve the tasks below!
Name:
Date:
A Part 1: The Compass Rose Challenge
You are standing at Point A and travel to Point B. If Point B is directly to your left, you are traveling:
A pirate ship is sailing midway between North and West. What direction is the ship traveling?
If you walk from the South Pole directly towards South America, you are heading:
What intermediate direction lies directly opposite of Northwest (NW) on the compass?
B Part 2: Map Key Decoder
SAMPLE MAP
⭐ Metro City
⛰️ Mt. Rocky
⛺ Base Camp
Blue River
🌲🌲 Whispering Woods
✈️ Eco Airport
MAP KEY
⭐ Capital
⛰️ Mountain Peak
⛺ Campground
🌲🌲 Forest Area
✈️ Airport
If you are at Base Camp (⛺) and fly home, what direction should you travel to reach the Eco Airport (✈️)?
Why is a Map Key crucial on a map instead of drawing fully detailed real-size illustrations?
C Part 3: Map Type Selector
Write Physical, Political, or Thematic for each mission.
Explorer's Mission / Problem Best Map Type 1. You need to identify the absolute boundaries of Canada and locate Ottawa. 2. You are hiking in Colorado and need to avoid a mountain ridge over 10,000 feet tall. 3. You are researching how global temperatures vary from North to South America. 4. You want to see the location of major rivers and valley basins across Africa.
6th Grade Social Studies • Map Essentials Practice UNIT 1 • DAY 1
Latitude Longitude Doodle Notes Day 2 Note-Taking
THE GLOBAL GRID
Color, label, and trace the imaginary lines that wrap around our Earth!
Name:
Date:
🌍 Geography
The study of Earth's landscapes, peoples, environments, and resources.
📐 LATITUDE (Parallels)
East-West
Like rungs on a ladder!
• Measured in Degrees (°) N / S of Equator.
• Key Line: Equator (0°)
Write definition here:
📐 LONGITUDE (Meridians)
North-South
Long lines from pole to pole!
• Measured in Degrees (°) E / W of Prime Meridian.
• Key Line: Prime Meridian (0°)
Write definition here:
Globe Labeling Mission
Trace with crayons or colored pencils as instructed by your teacher!
EQUATOR (0°)
PRIME MERIDIAN (0°)
N ↑
NORTH POLE
SOUTH POLE
Point X
Point Y
Color Equator Green
Color Prime Meridian Blue
Find Coordinates
🧭 The 4 Hemispheres Doodle
Equator and Prime Meridian cut the world into halves called Hemispheres . Label them!
Northern Hemisphere
North of Equator
Southern Hemisphere
South of Equator
Eastern Hemisphere
East of Prime Mer.
Western Hemisphere
West of Prime Mer.
6th Grade Social Studies • Latitude & Longitude Doodle Notes UNIT 1 • DAY 2
Latitude Longitude Slides Day 2 GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY UNIT
Standard: 6.G.1.1
Gridlines Unlocked
Latitude, Longitude & The Grid
How do geographers find any single spot on our giant Earth? By wrapping the planet in a mathematical grid of imaginary lines!
🌍 GEOGRAPHY
📐 LATITUDE
📐 LONGITUDE
🗺️ HEMISPHERES
Slides 1/5
Lines Parallels of Latitude
Vocabulary: Latitude, Equator
📐 Latitude: Flatitude!
Lines of Latitude are imaginary lines that run horizontally around the Earth from East to West.
🧭
The Equator (0°) The ultimate starting line! It splits Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
🪜
Ladder Rule Remember: Latitude sounds like "ladder-tude." These lines look like the rungs of a ladder!
EQUATOR (0°)
Lines are parallel, meaning they never intersect or touch!
Look at your Day 2 Doodle notes to trace the Equator! Slides 2/5
Lines Meridians of Longitude
Vocabulary: Longitude, Prime Meridian
📐 Longitude: Long Lines!
Lines of Longitude are imaginary lines that run vertically around the Earth from the North Pole to the South Pole.
🇬🇧
The Prime Meridian (0°) Runs straight through Greenwich, England. It splits Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
🦒
Tall/Long Rule Remember: Longitude lines are "long" and reach all the way from top to bottom, like a giraffe's neck!
PRIME MERIDIAN
Longitude lines meet at the North and South Poles!
Trace the Prime Meridian in blue on your Doodle Notes! Slides 3/5
Hemispheres Earth's Halves
Standard: 6.G.1.1
"Hemi" = Half • "Sphere" = Ball
The Earth can be sliced into four different hemispheres!
⬆️🌍
Northern
Everything North of the Equator. Includes North America, Europe, Asia, and northern South America.
⬇️🌍
Southern
Everything South of the Equator. Includes Antarctica, Australia, most of South America, and Africa.
➡️🌍
Eastern
East of the Prime Meridian. Includes most of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
⬅️🌍
Western
West of the Prime Meridian. Includes North America, South America, and parts of western Europe/Africa.
Latitude Longitude Worksheet Day 2 Practice
GRID NAVIGATOR LAB
Plot coordinates, steer your ship, and master the world's latitude and longitude grid!
Name:
Date:
A Part 1: Plotting on the Grid
Refer to the coordinate grid below to identify the locations of the mystery explorer points!
WEST (W) ← EQUATOR (0° Latitude) → EAST (E)
PRIME MERIDIAN (0°) PRIME MERIDIAN (0°)
40°N
20°N
20°S
40°S
60°W
60°E
A
B
C
D
Point A coordinates: ( , )
Point B coordinates: ( , )
Point C coordinates: ( , )
Point D coordinates: ( , )
B Part 2: Hemisphere Sorting
For each set of coordinates, write whether it sits in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, and whether it is in the Eastern or Western Hemisphere.
1. (35°N, 120°W)
N/S:
E/W:
2. (15°S, 45°E)
N/S:
E/W:
3. (60°S, 140°W)
N/S:
E/W:
C Part 3: Explorer Reflection
Imagine an explorer claims they are standing at 110°N latitude . Explain why this claim is completely mathematically impossible.
6th Grade Social Studies • Latitude & Longitude practice UNIT 1 • DAY 2
Absolute Relative Doodle Notes Day 3 Note-Taking
WHERE ON EARTH?
Absolute vs. Relative Location • Learn how to state your position!
Name:
Date:
1
📌 ABSOLUTE LOCATION
The exact, precise spot where a place is located on Earth. It never changes!
A. Coordinates: Uses the global grid intersecting degrees of & .
B. Street Address: E.g., 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This is absolute!
GPS DEVICE
📡 CONNECTED 45° N, 75° W
Sketch GPS beams pointing to a single spot on the map above!
Definition:
2
🗺️ RELATIVE LOCATION
Where a place is located in relation (comparison) to other landmarks or points. It can change based on your viewpoint!
A. Landmark Clues: Describes location as "next to", "behind", or "near" a .
B. Directional Clues: Describes position using compass points. E.g., "3 miles North of the river".
NEIGHBORHOOD
🏫 School
------➡️ 2 blocks East
🏡 My House
Relative location changes depending on which landmark you start from!
Definition:
⚡ Sketch Challenge: State Your Position!
Write down one Absolute and one Relative clue of where your desk is inside this classroom!
My Desk Absolute Location:
My Desk Relative Location:
6th Grade Social Studies • Absolute vs Relative Location Doodle Notes UNIT 1 • DAY 3
Location Types Slides Day 3 GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY UNIT
Standard: 6.G.1.1
Positioning Masterclass
Absolute vs. Relative Location
How do we describe where a place is? Discover the two primary systems geographers use to find their way around the globe.
📌 ABSOLUTE LOCATION
📡 GPS & COORDINATES
🗺️ RELATIVE LOCATION
🏛️ LANDMARKS
Slides 1/5
Type 1 Unchanging Coordinates
Vocabulary: Absolute Location
📌 Absolute Location
The exact, mathematically precise spot where a place is located on Earth.
📐
Coordinates (Global Grid) Using latitude & longitude coordinates. E.g., 29°N, 95°W (Houston, Texas).
✉️
Street Address Your physical mailing address. E.g., 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC.
GPS CONNECTED SAT: 12
LATITUDE / LONGITUDE 38.8977° N, 77.0365° W
100% ACCURATE
No matter where you are or who you ask, absolute coordinates never shift or change!
Can you think of your own home's absolute address? Slides 2/5
Type 2 Relationship & Clues
Vocabulary: Relative Location
🗺️ Relative Location
Describing where a place is in relation to other landmarks or well-known points.
🏛️
Landmark Clues "My house is next to the public library" or "The park is behind the fast-food restaurant."
🧭
Direction & Distance "Chicago is about 90 miles South of Milwaukee" or "Texas is South of Oklahoma."
Mind Map Clues
⛰️ Rocky Mountains
◀️ 10 miles East
⛺ Adventure Camp
Relative location is highly useful for daily conversational directions and map sketches!
How would you describe your school's relative location? Slides 3/5
Battle Compare & Contrast
Standard: 6.G.1.1
How do they stack up?
Let's look at the strengths and weaknesses of each system.
ABSOLUTE LOCATION
Pros: Perfectly exact, universally understood by computer algorithms & GPS satellites.Cons: Extremely hard to memorize or state without consulting grid tools or maps.
KEY EXAMPLE "40.7128° N, 74.0060° W" (New York City)
RELATIVE LOCATION
Location Types Worksheet Day 3 Practice
WHERE AM I LAB
Master absolute coordinates and relative landmarks to solve these explorer files!
Name:
Date:
A Part 1: Absolute vs. Relative Sorting
Read each clue and check whether it represents Absolute Location (ABS) or Relative Location (REL).
Location Description Clue ABS REL 1. "The coordinate points for Buenos Aires are 34°S, 58°W." 2. "To reach the library, walk three blocks East from the park and look beside the post office." 3. "The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C." 4. "Florida lies south of Georgia and borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico." 5. "Cairo, Egypt is located exactly on latitude 30.04°N, longitude 31.23°E."
B Part 2: Practice Formulating Clues
Choose two familiar real-world locations (like your bedroom, your favorite store, or a local landmark) and write absolute and relative descriptions of them.
Location 1:
Absolute Clue (Street Address):
Relative Clue (Landmarks):
Location 2:
Absolute Clue (Street Address):
Relative Clue (Landmarks):
C Part 3: Explorer Riddle File
Read the letter from a stranded explorer and decide: Did they send an absolute location or relative location? Then explain if it is enough information to rescue them.
SOS TRANSLATED "SOS! We have crashed our plane. We can see a massive smoking volcano directly to our West. We are about 5 miles East of a river that leads to the sea. The sun is setting behind the volcano peak. Please send help!"
1. What type of location clues did they send?
2. Is it enough to pinpoint and rescue them? Why?
6th Grade Social Studies • Absolute vs Relative Location Practice UNIT 1 • DAY 3
Continents Oceans Doodle Notes Day 4 Map Tour
CONTINENTS & OCEANS
Explore the 7 major landmasses and 5 massive oceans of our planet!
Name:
Date:
⛰️ Word Bank: Continents (7)
North America • South America • Europe • Africa • Asia • Australia • Antarctica
🌊 Word Bank: Oceans (5)
Pacific Ocean • Atlantic Ocean • Indian Ocean • Arctic Ocean • Southern Ocean
PACIFIC OCEAN
ATLANTIC OCEAN
INDIAN OCEAN
ARCTIC OCEAN
SOUTHERN OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
CONTINENT 1 Write: ________________
CONTINENT 2 Write: ________________
CONTINENT 3 Write: ______________
CONTINENT 4 Write: ________________
CONTINENT 5 Write: __________________
CONTINENT 6 Write: ______________
CONTINENT 7: _____________________________________________
🎨 Color: Equator Line (Green) • Oceans (Sky Blue) • Antarctica (Icy Blue) ⚓ Draw a tiny sailboat next to Australia!
⚡ Geography Trivia Quest
Answer these global questions before completing your map!
1. Which is the largest continent?
2. Which ocean surrounds Antarctica?
6th Grade Social Studies • World Continents & Oceans Doodle Notes UNIT 1 • DAY 4
Continents Oceans Slides Day 4 GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY UNIT
Standard: 6.B.1.1
The Ultimate Tour
Continents & Oceans of the World
Pack your bags! Today we navigate our global map to locate the 7 massive landmasses and the 5 great oceans of the Earth.
⛰️ 7 CONTINENTS
🌊 5 MAJOR OCEANS
🌎 GLOBAL TOUR
Slides 1/5
Land The 7 Continents
Vocabulary: Continents
⛰️ The 7 Landmasses
A continent is one of Earth's seven major continuous expanses of land.
1. North America Home to Canada, USA, Mexico, and Caribbean.
2. South America Home to Amazon forest and Andes mountains.
3. Europe & 4. Asia Two massive connected landmasses (Eurasia).
5. Africa Sits directly on the Equator line.
The Remaining Continents
6. Australia (Oceania) The smallest continent, completely surrounded by water.
7. Antarctica The frozen continent at the absolute South Pole. Completely uninhabited by permanent human residents!
Did you know? Asia is the largest continent in size and population!
Color Antarctica icy blue on your Doodle notes! Slides 2/5
Water The 5 Oceans
Vocabulary: Oceans
🌊 The 5 Great Oceans
Over 70% of Earth is covered in salt water. Geographers divide this single global ocean into 5 distinct basins:
🌊 Pacific Ocean The absolute largest and deepest ocean. Shakes with volcanic activity ("Ring of Fire").
🌊 Atlantic Ocean The second largest, separating North/South America from Europe/Africa.
The Remaining Oceans
🌊 Indian Ocean Sits south of Asia and borders Africa and Australia. Warmest tropical waters!
🌊 Southern (Antarctic) Ocean Surrounds the continent of Antarctica. Cold, icy, and extremely windy!
🌊 Arctic Ocean The smallest and shallowest ocean, sitting at the absolute North Pole.
Label the oceans on your world map worksheet! Slides 3/5
Game Map Quest Challenge
Standard: 6.G.1.1
Global Tracker Practice!
Let's combine gridlines, continents, and oceans to solve geographic problems!
🧭
PROBLEM 1
If a research ship is at 0° latitude and 0° longitude , in what major body of water are they floating?
Global Explorer Exit Ticket Formative Ticket 1
GLOBAL EXPLORER EXIT TICKET
Name:
Date:
1. Compass Direction: If you are traveling directly between South and East, what intermediate direction are you facing?
2. Gridlines: What is the name of the 0° line of longitude that splits the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres?
3. Absolute vs. Relative: Write whether this statement is Absolute or Relative: "Our school is next to the local baseball field."
4. Global Tour: Which continent is completely surrounded by Southern Ocean waters and sits at the South Pole?
How do you feel about tomorrow's unit assessment?
🟢 Ready! (Easy) 🟡 Okay (Need review) 🔴 Lost (Help!)
Formative Ticket 2
GLOBAL EXPLORER EXIT TICKET
Name:
Date:
1. Compass Direction: If you are traveling directly between South and East, what intermediate direction are you facing?
2. Gridlines: What is the name of the 0° line of longitude that splits the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres?
3. Absolute vs. Relative: Write whether this statement is Absolute or Relative: "Our school is next to the local baseball field."
4. Global Tour: Which continent is completely surrounded by Southern Ocean waters and sits at the South Pole?
How do you feel about tomorrow's unit assessment?
🟢 Ready! (Easy) 🟡 Okay (Need review) 🔴 Lost (Help!)
Geography Unit Test UNIT 1 EXAM
GLOBAL EXPLORER ASSESSMENT
Showcase your geographic navigation and map reading mastery!
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Vocabulary Matchup 10 Points (1 pt each)
Match each key vocabulary term on the left with its correct definition on the right by writing the letter on the blank line.
____ 1. Geography
____ 2. Latitude
____ 3. Longitude
____ 4. Equator
____ 5. Prime Meridian
____ 6. Physical Map
____ 7. Political Map
____ 8. Thematic Map
____ 9. Absolute Location
____ 10. Relative Location
A. Imaginary vertical lines running from pole to pole.
B. Map that focuses on human-made borders of states and nations.
C. Describing position in comparison to nearby landmarks.
D. The exact mathematical coordinates or street address of a place.
E. The global grid line sitting at 0° latitude.
F. The study of Earth's landscapes, environments, and peoples.
G. Map showing specialized themes like weather, climate, or resources.
H. Imaginary horizontal lines circling parallel to the Equator.
I. Map showing natural features like mountains and rivers.
J. The global grid line sitting at 0° longitude.
Part 2: Compass & Symbols Decoder 10 Points (2 pts each)
Read the following questions and bubble the correct option. All options are styled equally.
11. If you are sailing a ship directly halfway between North and East, what direction are you steering?
A. Southeast (SE) B. Northwest (NW) C. Northeast (NE) D. Southwest (SW)
12. What intermediate direction lies directly opposite of Southwest (SW) on the compass rose?
A. Northeast (NE) B. Northwest (NW) C. Southeast (SE) D. North-by-West
13. Which of the following is a primary function of a Map Key or Legend?
A. To measure the exact absolute coordinates of a city. B. To decode what specific symbols, lines, and colors represent.
Unit 1 Exam: Global Explorer Geography Page 1 of 2
GLOBAL EXPLORER ASSESSMENT
Part 3, 4, & 5 • Continue working steadily!
Part 3: Grid Navigator Challenge 10 Points (2.5 pts each)
Answer the following questions about the global coordinate grid system.
Geography Unit Answer Key TEACHER ANSWER KEY
GLOBAL EXPLORER ASSESSMENT KEY
Official Grading Guide & Exemplar Responses • Day 5 Assessment
Total Points: 50 Points
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Part 1: Vocabulary Matchup Key 10 Points (1 pt each)
F 1. Geography
H 2. Latitude
A 3. Longitude
E 4. Equator
J 5. Prime Meridian
I 6. Physical Map
B 7. Political Map
G 8. Thematic Map
D 9. Absolute Location
C 10. Relative Location
A. Imaginary vertical lines running from pole to pole.
B. Map that focuses on human-made borders of states and nations.
C. Describing position in comparison to nearby landmarks.
D. The exact mathematical coordinates or street address of a place.
E. The global grid line sitting at 0° latitude.
F. The study of Earth's landscapes, environments, and peoples.
G. Map showing specialized themes like weather, climate, or resources.
H. Imaginary horizontal lines circling parallel to the Equator.
I. Map showing natural features like mountains and rivers.
J. The global grid line sitting at 0° longitude.
Part 2: Compass & Symbols Decoder Key 10 Points (2 pts each)
11. If you are sailing a ship directly halfway between North and East, what direction are you steering?
A. Southeast (SE) B. Northwest (NW) C. Northeast (NE) [CORRECT] D. Southwest (SW)
12. What intermediate direction lies directly opposite of Southwest (SW) on the compass rose?
A. Northeast (NE) [CORRECT] B. Northwest (NW) C. Southeast (SE) D. North-by-West
13. Which of the following is a primary function of a Map Key or Legend?
A. To measure the exact absolute coordinates of a city. B. To decode what symbols, lines, and colors represent. [CORRECT]
Official Answer Key • Global Explorer Geography Page 1 of 2
GLOBAL EXPLORER ASSESSMENT KEY
Part 3, 4, & 5 • Grading Solutions
Part 3: Grid Navigator Challenge Key 10 Points (2.5 pts each)
14. When writing coordinates, which is written first?
☑️ Latitude [KEY] ☐ Longitude
15. What hemisphere sits entirely North of the Equator?
Northern Hemisphere
