Alabama Social Studies SS24.3.1

SS24.3.1 is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.

• SS24.3.1a

  Identify the Equator, International Date Line, Prime Meridian, Tropic of Capricorn, and Tropic of Cancer, using cardinal and intermediate directions.

• SS24.3.1b

  Locate points on a grid using latitude and longitude coordinates.

• SS24.3.1c

  Use the map scale to calculate the distance between two locations.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students find five major reference lines on a world map and describe locations using compass directions. They use latitude and longitude to find points on a grid. They measure between places on a map and use its scale to calculate distance.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A student labels the Equator, Prime Meridian, International Date Line, and both tropics in the right places. Given coordinates, they mark the correct grid intersection and describe its direction from another point. They measure a map distance and give the scaled distance with units.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may swap latitude and longitude or mark a point on just one line instead of at an intersection. They may confuse the Prime Meridian with the International Date Line or put the Tropic of Capricorn north of the Equator. Some use the scale without measuring between the places first.

04

How to Assess It

Give students a world map with a grid, scale, and two marked cities. Ask them to label the five reference lines, plot 20°N, 30°E, state its direction from 10°S, 10°W, and calculate the straight-line distance between the cities.

1. 01

   Give pairs blank world maps and colored pencils to trace and name the five reference lines, then describe two marked points using compass directions.

2. 02

   Ask students to explain in two sentences why 20°S, 60°W is southwest of 10°N, 30°E.

3. 03

   Call out coordinates on a printed grid; partners race to mark each intersection, then check their points against an answer key.

4. 04

   Give students a local map with a scale; have them measure the straight-line distance from school to the library and calculate miles.

• SS24.1.8a

  Identify map features, including title, cardinal directions, and key.

• SS24.K.8

  Identify landforms and bodies of water on maps, globes, and satellite and digital images.

• SS24.1.9

  Differentiate among landforms, bodies of water, and other physical features on maps, globes, and satellite and digital images.

• SS24.7.1b

  Use physical, political, and special-purpose maps to identify the distribution of people, location of places, and classification of physical features.