Virginia SOL 3.3

3.3 is a Standards of Learning history and social science standard. These are the skills expectations under it.

• 3.3.a

  identifying and locating major bodies of water

• 3.3.b

  identifying and locating major mountain ranges

• 3.3.c

  describing how geographic features have impacted the lives of individuals

• 3.3.d

  connecting geography to major historical events.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students locate and label key oceans, seas, rivers, and mountain ranges on a world map. They explain how these features shaped settlement, food, travel, trade, protection, and historical events.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given a blank map, students place studied features in the correct region and use direction words to describe each location. They connect one feature to both daily life and a specific event.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may confuse rivers, seas, and oceans or place features using modern political borders. They may see mountains only as barriers and rivers only as water sources, missing their roles in protection, farming, travel, and trade.

04

How to Assess It

Give students a blank world map and ask them to label one studied body of water and one mountain range. Then have them explain how one feature affected people and an event.

1. 01

   Build a relief map with clay, blue yarn, and labels, then mark where people could farm, travel, trade, or find protection.

2. 02

   Ask students to write: Would you settle near a river or behind mountains, and what map evidence supports your choice?

3. 03

   Run a map relay where teams place feature cards on a blank world map and explain one effect of each feature.

4. 04

   Compare a modern satellite image of a studied region with an ancient map, then identify geographic features people still use today.

• 2.11

  The student will apply history and social science skills to develop geographic mapping skills using world maps and globes by

• 3.2

  The student will apply history and social science skills to locate and describe major geographic features of Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North ...

• K.7

  The student will apply history and social science skills to demonstrate an understanding of maps and globes by

• 3.7

  The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the geographic, political, economic, and social structures and innovations of ancient Rome ...