Lesson Idea | Identifying Landforms and Bodies of Water on a Map

The “Models of Land and Water: Identifying Landforms and Bodies of Water on a Map” lesson is designed for 2nd grade students and introduces them to the practice of developing and using models by exploring maps. In this one-hour lesson, students learn to recognize a map as a model, identify and name different landforms and bodies of water, describe their features, and locate them on a world map. This lesson is intended for elementary teachers who want to strengthen students’ geography skills and spatial understanding through map activities.

National Standards Introduced and Reinforced (not assessed)

NGSS:
2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an
area. [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include quantitative scaling in models.]
Developing and Using Models
Modeling in K–2 builds on prior experiences and progresses to include using and developing
models (i.e., diagram, drawing, physical replica, diorama, dramatization, or storyboard) that
represent concrete events or design solutions.
CC:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning
words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of
strategies.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.4.A Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or
phrase.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.6 Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and
being read to, and responding to texts, including using adjectives and adverbs to describe (e.g.,
When other kids are happy that makes me happy).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.6 Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation
in order to provide requested detail or clarification.