North America Map Project

North America Map Project Introduction This is a group project. Each group will be made up of thee members. Refer to the master list for the group setup. No group can change members. These groups were created by the teacher. You will have four class periods to work on this project. You will not be allowed to or need to take this project home. This is an in-class project only. DO NOT try to do each of the steps as a whole group. Instead, split up the steps among the members so that you will be able to accomplish the project within the time allowed. Read all instructions BEFORE beginning work.

Instructions Step One: Retrieve the following supplies: an atlas, your summary page on “The Geography of North America”, the article “The Geography of North America”, the article on “Major Rivers and Landforms”, your completed maps, a roll of blank paper, and coloring materials (either the pastels provided or any coloring materials that you have). You may go to your locker if you have any coloring materials there. Step Two: Using ONLY PENCIL (no pens on this project), hand draw a map of North America using your map handouts and the atlases as your guide. It is a good idea to do a light sketch before you draw thick, hard lines. That way if you make a mistake it is easily corrected. Remember to maintain correct proportion of nations. Step Three: Label the following on your map, using the following capitalizations and an appropriate symbol for the land marks: Nations CANADA

GUATEMALA

PANAMA

COSTA RICA

HONDURAS

PUERTO RICO

CUBA

ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND

THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MEXICO

GREENLAND

NICARAGUA

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Oceans Arctic Ocean

Caribbean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

Gulf of Mexico

Pacific Ocean

Rivers Brazos River

Fraser River

Rio Grande

Churchill River

Mackenzie River

St. Lawrence River

Colorado River

Mississippi River

Yukon River

Columbia River

Ohio River Lakes

Great Bear Lake

Great Lakes

Great Salt Lake

Lake Winnepeg

Mountains Alaska Range

Coast Range

Sierra Madre Oriental

Appalachian Mountains

Rocky Mountains

Sierra Nevada

Brooks Range

Sierra Madre del Sur

Cascades Range

Sierra Madre Occidental Deserts

Chihuahuan Desert

Great Basin Desert

Mojave Desert

Sonoran Desert

Highland Regions CANADIAN SHIELD

COASTAL PLAINS

INTERIOR PLAINS (AKA GREAT PLANS)

Lowland Regions ANTILLEAN SYSTEM

APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS

NORTH AMERICAN CORDILLERA

Step Four: Write a one sentence summary for each of the following topics. Make sure to edit and revise your sentences before you write them on your map. Using your best handwriting, write them on your map in the white spaces of the paper. Put the topic title above each summary in ALL CAPITALS. Topics: Climates of North America

Economic Activities: Transportation

The People: Racial Groups

Economic Activities: Agriculture

Physical Geography: Land

The People: Religion

Economic Activities: Forests

Physical Geography: Water

Economic Activities: Manufacturing

The People: Education and Culture

Wildlife: Grassland

The People: Languages

Wildlife: Northern Coniferous Forests

The People: Population

Wildlife: Tropical Forests

Economic Activities: Minerals Economic Activities: Trade

Wildlife: Desert Wildlife: Tundra Wildlife: Eastern Forests

Wildlife: Water Step Five: Using the coloring materials, color your map. DO NOT fill in whole regions with solid colors, but instead use good outlining and shading. Use the maps at the back of the room as your inspiration. Step Six: Put the following elements on your map: 

A title



A compass rose (showing the directions)



Your names, written neatly at the bottom right corner