Indiana Social Studies 4.G.1

Social Studies4th GradeGeography

The Standard

Estimate distances between two places on a map when referring to relative locations.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students find two places on a map and describe where one is relative to the other. They use a map scale or grid to estimate how far apart the places are.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can say the library is east of the school and estimate the distance using the map scale. They know that 2 inches on a map where 1 inch represents 2 miles means about 4 miles.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat an inch on the map as a mile without checking the scale. They may give the direction from the wrong starting place or confuse straight-line distance with distance by road.
How to Assess It: Draw a grid with School at the bottom and Park three squares directly above it. Tell students each square represents about 5 miles, then ask: “Where is the park from the school, and about how far away is it?”

Lesson moves

Give pairs a town map where 1 inch represents 2 miles and a ruler; have them estimate the school-to-library distance.
On a map labeled school, clinic, and park, ask: “Which place is closer to the school? How can you tell?”
Play Map Match: read cards such as “about 6 miles west of the school,” and have students place counters on a scaled map.
Use a printed map of the school area to estimate how far the nearest playground is from school and which direction it lies.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 4.G.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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