6TH GRADE
USA/CANADA
MAP CHALLENGE
Name and Homeroom:
S T U D E N T
H A N D O U T
cle
170ºE
e
Arctic Cir
cl
70ºN
80ºN
70ºN
Arctic Cir
80ºN
Challenge 1: Learning About the Physical Geography
of Canada and the United States
10ºW
60ºN
20ºW
180º
60º
N
30ºW
170ºW
40ºW
160ºW
50
ºN
50ºW
ºN
50
150ºW
40
ºN
60ºW
ºN
40
140ºW
30º
N
N
30º
N
Tro
pic
W
of C
anc
er
E
c of
pi
Tro
S
cer
Can
20º
N
20ºN
70ºW
0
10ºN
500
1,000 miles
70ºW
0
500
1,000 kilometers
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
130ºW
120ºW
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
TCI5 426
North America Physical
110ºW
100ºW
90ºW
80ºW
10ºN
1
Canada and the United States 3
S T U D E N T
H A N D O U T
e
Arctic Cir
70ºN
80ºN
80ºN
70ºN
cl
Arctic Cir
170ºE
cle
Challenge 2: Learning About the Human Geography
of Canada and the United States
60ºN
ARCTIC
10ºW
OCEAN
20ºW
180º
60º
N
30ºW
170ºW
40ºW
Yukon
Territory
160ºW
Northwest Territories
Newfoundland
and Labrador
50
ºN
50ºW
ºN
50
CANADA
150ºW
Saskatchewan
Quebec
Manitoba
New
Brunswick
40
Vermont Maine
Washington
ºN
North
Dakota
Idaho
Wyoming
140ºW
P A C I F I C
Wisconsin
South
Dakota
Nebraska
Pennsylvania
Iowa
Utah
Colorado
Kansas
30º
N
New
Mexico
pic
W
of C
Kentucky
Tennessee
Arkansas
West
Virginia
Virginia
Alabama
North
Carolina
South
Carolina
N
30º
Texas
AT L A N T I C
OCEAN
Louisiana
E
anc
er
Oklahoma
Missouri
Ohio
Rhode Island
Connecticut
New Jersey
Delaware
Maryland
Washington, D.C.
Mississippi
N
Tro
Indiana
U N I T E D S T A T E S Illinois
Nevada
O C E A N
60ºW
Nova Scotia
0ºN
New Hampshire 4
Minnesota
ic
rop
S
T
er
anc
of C
20º
N
N
20º
70ºW
0
10º
N
130ºW
500
70ºW
0
500
1,000 kilometers
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
120ºW
© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute
TCI5 427
1,000 miles
110ºW
100ºW
90ºW
80ºW
10ºN
2
Canada and the United States 4
Name ________________________________________________________________ Period ___________
Challenge 3: Using Geography Skills to Answer “Where?”
Canada and the United States
Directions: F
​ or each question you will use the political map with boundaries and one additional map. Read
each question. Circle which thematic map you will use to answer the question. Then, make sure to answer the
question. It does NOT have to be in a complete sentence.
Question 1: ​ A. What is the largest area in Canada or the United States that is densely populated (over 250
people per square mile)? Give relative location and country name. B. What are four cities in that area?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​: A.
​B.
Question 2: ​ In which state in the US can you find all of the following climates: arid, semi-arid,
Mediterranean, highlands and marine west coast?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​:
Question 3:​ A. Which resource is most abundant in Texas, Alaska and Alberta? B. Which state or province
appears to have the most of that resource?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​: A.
​B.
Question 4:​ Which ​four​ territories and states have both a subarctic and a tundra climate and include land
that is along the Arctic Circle?
Physical Features
Answer​:
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
1.
2.
3.
4.
3
Economic Activity
Question 5: ​ A. What is the most common type of vegetation in the central area of southern Canada and the
United States? B. Which country has more land with that type of vegetation?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​: A.
​B.
Question 6: ​ What are ​the same​ types of land use that occur along ​both​ the ​Pacific Coast​ and the ​Atlantic
Coast​ of Canada and the United States?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​:
Question 7: ​Which ​Canadian​ island has a population density that ranges from under 2 people to as many as
250 people for square mile?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​:
Question 8: ​A. Which five lakes together make up the largest body of freshwater in Canada and the United
States? B. What is this group of lakes called?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​: A.
​B.
Question 9: ​ A. Which ​four​ Canadian provinces or territories are entirely covered in forests? B. Which kinds
of forest are found there?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Answer​: A.
​B.
4
Population Density
Economic Activity
Question 10:​ What are ​ten​ provinces, territories, and states that the Rocky Mountains run through?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer​:
Challenge Part 1 (Multiple Maps):
These two questions require more than one map to find the correct answer. You will still
check your answers on Canvas.
Question 11​: A. Which mountain range has the most coal? B. Which mountain range has the most precious
metals?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer: ​A.
​B.
Question 12​:
Which two islands are completely covered by the tundra vegetation zone?
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Population Density
Economic Activity
Answer:
Challenge Part 2:
Use the thematic maps of Canada and the United States to write your own prompt below. Circle the
map(s) you used to answer the question and write the answer, too. Then, submit it using the provided
link on Canvas.
Prompt​:
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Answer​:
5
Population Density
Economic Activity
Name _______________________________________________ Period _____________
United States and Canada: Challenge 4
Directions: Y
​ ou will work independently on Challenge 4. Read each question. Circle the thematic
maps (more than one) you will use to answer the question. Then make sure to answer the question
completely. It should be written in a complete sentence.
Example #5 Question
My Uncle John grows rice, something that does well only in a humid subtropical climate with other
tropical grassland vegetation. In his free time, he loves to go sailing year-round on large bodies of
water. His house is near a city with over a million people on a very large river. ​A. Where does John
live? B. What words helped you pick your maps?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​: A.
B.
Question 1: ​ A. Name three states, provinces, or territories that produce more hydroelectric power than
other places in that region. B. What ​physical feature​ in these places might help explain why
hydroelectric power is a resource there?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​: A.
B.
Question 2: ​ California is the most populated state in this region. Nunavut is the least populated. How
do climate and economic activity help explain why this is the case?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​: A. Use words from the correct maps to describe California in order to answer the question:
B. Use words from the correct maps to describe Nunavut in order to answer the question:
C. Why does the population density then make sense for the places above?
6
Question 3:​ Find the area of the continental United States that is least populated. A. What physical
features might help explain why the population density is so low? B. How might elevation ​and
vegetation zones also help explain the low population density?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​: A.
B.
Elevation:
Vegetation zone:
Question 4:​ A. Which of Canada’s cities has the largest population? B. How might the climate ​and
economic activity of the area help explain why so many people live there?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​:
A.
B.
Climate:
Economic Activity:
Reason for people wanting to live there:
Question 5: Top of the Page
Question 6: ​ A. In what city does this person live? B. What key words helped you decide this? “My
city is an urban area with more than ten million people. Like many people here, I work in
manufacturing. My brother is a commercial fisherman. We are surrounded by mountains, but also
have many beautiful beaches. Our Mediterranean climate makes the weather generally mild. It rains
occasionally. Sometimes, we worry about chaparral fires in the nearby hills.”
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​:
A.
B.
7
Challenge Part 1: Extra Detailed Questions
Question 7​: A. What west coast city is in the mixed forest vegetation zone? B. Which river is it on?
C. Which mountain range is it located in?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​:
A.
B.
C.
Question 8​: A. What city has 1 million to 4 million people with hydroelectric power and humid
continental climate? It is located along the St. Lawrence River. B. What state, province, or territory is
the city located in?
Physical Features Climate Zones Vegetation Zones Population Density Economic Activity
Answer​:
A.
B.
Challenge Part 2:
Use the thematic maps of Canada and the United States to write your own prompt below. Circle
the maps you used to answer the question and write the answer, too. Then, submit it using the
provided link on Canvas. Note: You must use at least 2 maps other than the political map.
Prompt​:
Physical Features
Climate Zones
Vegetation Zones
Answer​:
8
Population Density
Economic Activity