Grade 2 History and Social Studies Week 18 | Student Textbook

Grade 2 | HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES

WEEK 18 • STUDENT TEXTBOOK • DAYS 86–90

Read each lesson with a parent or teacher and study the worked example. Then answer the questions for that day in the Week 18 Practice Workbook.

Day 86: Continents, Oceans and the Equator

Earth has seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica. It has five oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Southern Oceans. On a world map, land and water fit together like puzzle pieces.

The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of Earth. Places above it on a map are in the northern half of Earth, called the Northern Hemisphere. Places below it are in the Southern Hemisphere. North America is north of the equator, and Australia is south of it.

Worked example: Which continent is covered in ice and lies all the way at the bottom of a world map?

The bottom of a map is the far south.
The icy continent there is Antarctica.

Worked answer: Antarctica.

Day 87: Physical Maps and Political Maps

A physical map shows the natural shape of the land and water: mountains, hills, valleys, rivers, lakes and coasts. Colors and shading often show high and low land.

A political map shows things people decided: the borders of countries and states, and the names of cities and capitals. A capital is often marked with a star. Some maps show both kinds of information.

Worked example: A map shows mountains in brown and rivers and lakes in blue. What kind of map is it?

Mountains, rivers and lakes are natural features.
Maps of natural features are physical maps.

Worked answer: A physical map.

Day 88: Alabama on Two Kinds of Maps

On a physical map of Alabama, you can see mountains and hills in the northeast. Cheaha Mountain is the highest point in the state. The Tennessee River crosses the northern part of Alabama. In the south, Mobile Bay opens into the Gulf, and the land along the coast is low and flat.

On a political map of Alabama, you can see the state’s borders and its cities. Montgomery is the capital. Alabama is divided into smaller parts called counties. Tennessee is north of Alabama, Georgia is east, Florida is south and Mississippi is west.

Worked example: Which state is north of Alabama?

The lesson names a neighbor on each side.
The state to the north is Tennessee.

Worked answer: Tennessee.

Day 89: Hands-On: Make a Map with a Key

Every good map has a title that tells what it shows, a compass rose that shows directions, and a key. A key, also called a legend, explains what each symbol on the map means.

Today you will draw a map of a make-believe street called Oak Lane. Maps we share with other people should not show where a real family lives, so we leave off real house numbers and street names.

Worked example: On a map key, a small triangle stands for a tree. What does a triangle on the map mean?

The key tells what each symbol means.
The key says a triangle stands for a tree.

Worked answer: A tree.

Day 90: Independent Check: Continents, Oceans and Maps

Today you will answer on your own.

Use what you learned this week: continents, oceans, the equator, and physical and political maps.

Worked example: Is Antarctica in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere?

Antarctica is at the very bottom of the map.
That is far south of the equator.

Worked answer: The Southern Hemisphere.

Grade 2 History and Social Studies Week 18 | Student Textbook