Junior Geographer.com Teacher's Guide

 
   
 

This Teacher's Guide can be accessed only with a teacher's password. Your students cannot gain entrance to this section.

 
  
 

How to Use This Site with Your Class

 
 

This site expands the content of The Nystrom Junior Geographer Atlas and the Map and Globe Skills program. It may be used by both teachers and students.

Teachers can:

  • Use the maps, graphs, and photo tours as digital resources in onscreen presentations.
  • Print the graphic resources or make transparencies of them for group or class discussions.
  • Conduct whole class or small group discussions based on these resources.
  • Use the sample questions from this guide for quizzes or discussions.

Students can:

  • Work through the Study Guide linked below for a comprehensive introduction to all resources on JuniorGeographer.com:



  • Download maps, graphs, and photographs for multimedia presentations.
  • Print maps, graphs, and photographs to include in reports.
  • Apply skills developed in program lessons and the atlas to online resources.
  • Research Social Studies topics on the Internet with the help of the Research Links.

To print out this Teacher's Guide, click anywhere in this frame. Then click on the printer icon on your browser toolbar.

 
   
 

Tips on Teaching with Maps

There are three main types of maps on this site: reference maps, outline maps, and thematic maps. The high quality of these maps may require longer loading and printing times than other materials.

This Teacher’s Guide includes:

  • a list of the maps on the site
  • discussion questions

Outline Maps

This site offers 14 outline maps–with relief and drainage– for each of the following:

  • United States (with and without present-day boundaries)
  • Northeast Region
  • East Central Region
  • Southeast Region
  • South Central Region
  • Central Region
  • North Central Region
  • Northwest Region
  • Southwest Region
  • Alaska
  • Hawaii
  • World (with and without present-day boundaries)

All of these maps can be printed. Use outline maps for any of the following purposes:

  • discussions on geographic, historic, cultural, or contemporary themes
  • hands-on application of mapping skills
  • region or state studies activities
  • reports, displays, and projects
  • review and testing

Reference Maps

The site provides present-day political maps of the following:

  • United States
  • Northeast Region
  • East Central Region
  • Southeast Region
  • South Central Region
  • Central Region
  • North Central Region
  • Northwest Region
  • Southwest Region
  • Alaska
  • Hawaii
  • World

This section also includes physical maps that highlight the natural regions and elevation of the United States and the world:

  • Physical Map of United States
  • Elevation Map of United States
  • Physical Map of World

Use these reference maps for:

  • discussions
  • comparisons
  • reports and projects
  • review

Thematic Maps

Six different thematic maps have been selected from The Nystrom Junior Geographer Atlas. Each map focuses on a specific topic, or theme, in the United States. These themes include:

  • Rainfall
  • Temperature
  • Land Use
  • Population
  • Time Zones
  • History

For each map, refer to the atlas for a more in-depth explanation of each theme and tips on how to use each map.

Discussion questions:

  1. Which state is located at 45ºN, 95ºW on the United States Political Map? (Minnesota)
  2. On the United States Physical Map, which natural region covers most of the eastern United States, grass or forest? (forest)
  3. On the Elevation Map of the United States, which mountain peak is higher, Mt. Whitney or Mt. Rainier? (Mt. Whitney)
  4. On the World Political Map, which continent is located directly north of Africa? (Europe)
  5. On the World Physical Map, which continent is covered entirely by tundra or ice? (Antarctica)
  6. On the Rainfall Map, which state receives more rain each year, Florida or Illinois? (Florida)
  7. On the Major Land Use Map, which type of land use is found in western Colorado, ranching or farming? (ranching)
  8. On the Population Map, which state has a lower population density, Missouri or New Mexico? (New Mexico)
  9. On the map of the East Central Region, which city is larger, Columbus, Ohio, or Richmond, Virginia? (Columbus, Ohio)
  10. On the map of the Central Region, which state borders Lake Michigan? (Illinois)
  11. On the map of the Northwest Region, how many states border Canada? (three)
  12. On the map of Hawaii, on which island is the city of Wailuku located? (Maui)
 
   
 

Tips on Teaching with Graphs

There are 14 graphs on this site. Ten of the graphs cover topics in the United States:

  • 7 United States climographs: Barrow, AK; Flagstaff, AZ; Phoenix, AZ; Raleigh, NC; Minneapolis, MN; Hilo HI; Olympia, WA; with a climate map of the country
  • 2 graphs showing change over time: U.S. Rural and Urban Population, 1800-2000, and U.S. Labor Force, 1800-2000
  • One graph showing the five largest U.S. cities
  • Four of the graphs cover global topics:
  • Five Longest Rivers in the World
  • Five Largest Lakes in the World
  • Highest Elevation by Continent
  • Five Largest Urban Areas, 2010

Remind students that graphs explain numerical data in a visual way. When viewing graphs, ask:

  • What is the topic?
  • What elements (sets of data) are being compared?
  • What patterns do you see?
  • What events or circumstances might explain the patterns?

Use the graphs for:

  • comparisons
  • discussions
  • reports, displays, and projects
 
   
 

Tips on Teaching with Photos

There are ten Photo Tours on this site—one for each region of the United States. Tours include 6 to 8 photos for each unit. These images help make geographic concepts more concrete by showing:

  • physical features (such as mountains, rivers, and plains)
  • cultural features (such as cities, canals, and buildings)
  • people
  • land use
  • natural vegetation
  • culture

Captions explain geographic concepts or regional points of interest. The words or phrases in bold identify key topics.

These photos are especially helpful in providing a visual resource showing characteristics of specific regions. Students can use the Photo Tours to:

  • gain a visual sense of people and places in the United States
  • compare/contrast regions geographically and culturally
  • clarify geographic and cultural concepts
  • use photos in reports and presentations

Encourage students to locate specific places on maps or globes for further analysis.

 
   
 

Tips on Teaching with Links

These links can help both teachers and students find sites related to the geography and culture of the United States and its regions. These sites have been reviewed and selected to provide useful links to online resources to support your social studies curriculum.

Because sites change from time to time, Nystrom cannot guarantee or be responsible for their content or the possibility that their addresses (URLs) may also change.

Although Nystrom has attempted to select links to web sites with no endorsements or advertising, it has not always been possible to do so. Please note that when sites do not include endorsements or advertising, Nystrom does not endorse or intend to promote them in any way.

There are eleven sets of site links on this site. There is a set of links for each region in the United States and also a set of general sites. Each listing includes a clickable direct link to the site, the site’s URL, and a short description of the site. It is recommended that teachers review the sites before allowing student access.

These links can be used for:

  • answering questions
  • extending a lesson
  • day-to-day assignments
  • research projects

Teachers might feature a link of the day or the week for students to access during their free time.

 
   
 

Atlas Test

Teachers can print the following test to assess what students know about using The Nystrom Junior Geographer Atlas. This test can be used as both a pre- and post-test to evaluate student knowledge before and after using the Atlas.

Click on the appropriate test below.

Junior Geographer Atlas Test (PDF)