This year's curriculum will focus on early American history from early explorers through the Civil War using nonfiction texts, maps, and timelines. Students will need strong map skills including latitude and longitude, compass rose, directional words, continents, oceans, hemispheres, and scale. The document prompts students to discuss with a partner the number of continents and oceans and name them, and to complete a blank compass rose handout by filling in the correct directional words.

1. This year we will be learning about
early America from early explorers and
Native American tribes through the
Civil War using nonfiction text, and
map and timeline skills.

2. … we will need to have a strong
knowledge of map skills!
 Latitude and longitude
 Compass rose, directional words
 Continents and oceans
 Hemispheres
 Scale

3. How many continents are there?
Turn and talk to your group and see if you all
agree on the number of continents.
*Challenge: Name them all!*
How many oceans are there?
Turn and talk with your group buddy to see if
you can agree on how many there are on Earth.
*Challenge: Name them all!*

4. On your handout there is a
blank compass rose like this
one shown here. On your
own, try to fill in the blanks
with the correct directional
words. When instructed,
share your answers with your group.