Oklahoma Social Studies 1.C.3.2
The Standard
- 1.C.3
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic geographic concepts.
Describe the difference between physical and political maps and how each can be used to inform us about the world.
Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · 1.C.3
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students tell what each kind of map helps them find. They use a physical map to find land and water features and a political map to find places such as states and cities.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student picks a physical map to find a river or mountain. They pick a political map to find a state and can say why they chose each map.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think a blue line on either map is a state border, when it shows a river. They may also think a physical map cannot show place names.
How to Assess It
- Show a physical map and a political map of the United States. Ask, “Which map would you use to find the Rocky Mountains? Which would you use to find Oklahoma? Why?”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs printed U.S. maps. Have them trace the Mississippi River on the physical map and Oklahoma’s border on the political map.
Show both maps and ask, “Why would someone choose one map to find mountains and the other to find a state?”
Hand out cards that say “Find a river,” “Find a state,” or “Find a mountain.” Students point to the map they would use.
Plan a pretend trip to Colorado. Find the state on a political map, then find its mountains on a physical map.
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Printable 1.C.3.2 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 2.C.3.1
Construct and use basic physical and political maps, including a legend and compass rose; explain how symbols are used to represent physical features and man-ma...
- 3.C.2.2
Examine Oklahoma’s political and physical features using physical and political maps.
- 2.C.3.3
Identify basic types of major landforms and bodies of water on physical maps.
- 1.C.3.1
Explain that a globe is a model of the Earth and that maps can be used to represent local places or specific regions of the state, nation, or world.
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