Florida SS.6.G.1.2
The Standard
Analyze the purposes of map projections (e.g., political, physical, special purpose) and explain the applications of various types of maps.
Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students compare how maps represent the same place and identify what each map is designed to show. They explain which map best fits a question and recognize that flat maps distort Earth’s surface.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given political, physical, and special-purpose maps, students identify each map’s purpose and choose one for a stated task. They support their choice with map features and describe one projection distortion.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often assume every map shows the same information and that a flat map preserves size, shape, and distance perfectly. They may confuse political borders with physical features or select a map by appearance rather than purpose.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Show a political map, physical map, and population map of one region. Ask students to choose the best map for locating mountains and explain why.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups an orange, marker, and paper, then have them peel and flatten the marked globe to observe projection distortion.
Ask students to write which map a disaster-response team needs first, then defend the choice with two map features.
Play Map Match by pairing task cards, such as finding borders or rainfall, with political, physical, or special-purpose maps.
Use local road, elevation, and weather maps to decide the safest route and date for a class hike.
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Printable SS.6.G.1.2 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS.6.G.1.2, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- SS.8.G.6.1
Use appropriate maps and other graphic representations to analyze geographic problems and changes over time throughout American history.
- SS.4.G.1.4
Interpret political and physical maps using map elements (title, compass rose, cardinal directions, intermediate directions, symbols, legend, scale, longitude, ...
- SS.3.G.1.4
Name and identify the purpose of maps (physical, political, elevation, population).
- SS.2.G.1.1
Use different types of maps (political, physical, and thematic) to identify map elements.
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