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 THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
GREENLAND NICARAGUA
Oceans
Arctic Ocean Caribbean Sea Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean Gulf of Mexico
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 Economic Activities: The People: Racial
America Transportation Groups
Economic Activities: Physical Geography: The People: Religion
Agriculture Land
Wildlife: Desert
Economic Activities: Physical Geography:
Wildlife: Tundra
Forests Water
Wildlife: Eastern
Economic Activities: The People:
Forests
Manufacturing Education and
Culture Wildlife: Grassland
Economic Activities:
Minerals The People: Wildlife: Northern
Languages Coniferous Forests
Economic Activities:
Trade The People: Wildlife: Tropical
Population 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