North America Map Skills Worksheet for 7-Year-Olds | Geography & Social Studies

Instructions

1. Read the instructions for each section carefully.
2. Use a pencil to complete the activities.
3. In Section 1, you will become a Map Detective and identify the parts of a map.
4. In Section 2, you will use the Word Bank to label a map of North America.
5. Try the Challenge Questions if you finish early!

Section 1: Map Detective

Every map needs special tools to help us read it. Your first mission is to identify these tools on the map of 'Pirate's Treasure Island' below. Draw a line from each map tool's name to its matching box on the map.

Map Tools:

• Title: The name of the map. It tells you what the map is about.
• Legend (or Key): Shows what the symbols on the map mean.
• Directional Indicator (or Compass Rose): Shows directions (North, South, East, West).
• Scale: Helps you measure distance on the map.

Map of Pirate's Treasure Island

A. [_____] (This box is at the very top of the map area)

B. [_____] (This box is in the bottom right corner and looks like this:)

• X = Treasure
• ~ = River
• â–² = Mountain

C. [_____] (This box is in the top right corner and has N, S, E, W with arrows)

D. [_____] (This box is in the bottom left corner and has a line that says "1 inch = 10 miles")

Matching Task:

1. Title
2. Legend
3. Directional Indicator
4. Scale

Draw a line from the number to the letter (A, B, C, or D) that it matches.

Section 2: The Great North America Adventure

Your next mission is to label the map of North America! Use the words from the Word Bank to fill in the blanks for numbers 1-10. Each word is used only once.

Word Bank

North America Map Labels

1. The large country north of the United States: _____

2. The large country south of the United States: _____

3. The country between Canada and Mexico: _____

4. The ocean to the WEST of North America: _____

5. The ocean to the EAST of North America: _____

6. The very cold ocean to the NORTH: _____

7. The large group of lakes in the northeast USA/Canada: _____

8. The very long river that flows down the middle of the United States: _____

9. The tall mountain range in the WESTERN part of North America: _____

10. The older, smaller mountain range in the EASTERN part of the United States: _____

Section 3: Explorer's Challenge (Optional)

Think like a true geographer! Answer one or both of these questions.

1. Look at the Compass Rose in Section 1. If you were in Mexico and wanted to travel to Canada, which direction would you mostly travel?

   ____

2. Why is a map's Legend (or Key) so important for an explorer?

   ____

Section 4: Real-World Connection

Maps are all around us! Describe a time you have seen or used a map in your life. (For example: on a family vacation, at the zoo, or playing a video game).

__

__

Answer Key

Section 1: Map Detective

• 1. Title → A
• 2. Legend → B
• 3. Directional Indicator → C
• 4. Scale → D

Section 2: The Great North America Adventure

1. Canada
2. Mexico
3. United States
4. Pacific Ocean
5. Atlantic Ocean
6. Arctic Ocean
7. The Great Lakes
8. Mississippi River
9. Rocky Mountains
10. Appalachian Mountains

Section 3: Explorer's Challenge (Sample Answers)

1. You would travel North.
2. The Legend is important because it tells you what the pictures and symbols on the map mean so you can understand where to go and what you are looking at.

Section 4: Real-World Connection

• Answers will vary based on the student's personal experience. Examples include using a GPS in the car, a map at the mall, a map of an amusement park, or a map in a storybook.