Physical, political or thematic map? A sorting activity for grades 3–5
What it is: a sorting activity for grades 3–5 where students sort map features and then whole maps into three types: physical maps (land and water made by nature), political maps (borders, countries, states and cities made by people) and thematic maps (one topic, such as rainfall, population or where a crop grows).
Time: about 25 minutes. Grade: 3rd to 5th grade.
Materials: feature cards (mountain range, state border, capital star, river, desert, highway, country name, lake, city, ocean depth color), and 6 to 9 sample maps from an atlas, a textbook or printouts.
- Hold up two cards: "mountain range" and "state border." Ask: "Which one could you see from an airplane? Which one did people decide on?"
- In pairs, students sort the feature cards into made by nature and made by people.
- Introduce the names: physical map and political map. Show one of each.
- Show a thematic map (for example, average rainfall). Ask: "Is this physical or political?" Explain that some maps show one topic and are called thematic maps.
- Pairs sort the sample maps into the three types and write what question each map can answer.
- Share: "If you wanted to plan a hike, which map would you use? If you wanted to know a state's capital?"
Differentiation: students who need support sort physical and political only. Students who are ready design the key for a thematic map of their school, such as where students eat lunch. English learners can use the frame "This map shows ___."
Quick check: show a map and ask the student what type it is and one question it could answer.
Save this activity to your library so it is ready when you need it.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades 3–5
- Subject
- Social studies
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.