Sixth Grade Map Skills?

[mercygate]

I teach 6th grade catechism. So far, it has been learn-by-doing. Since our curriculum this year is Scripture from Genesis through Acts, I want to augment my presentations with a LOT of maps.

How good are map skills by 6th grade? Do these kids know north? Do they know latitude & longitude? Do they know where Europe, Asiam the Middle East and Africa are? Have they heard of Mesopotamia?

How much do they know about temperate and arid climates? Do they know that altitude affects climate?

I THINK my kids knew this stuff by FIFTH grade, but don't want to assume a knowledge level that will leave my sixth graders confused and threatened.

Thanks for your input.

[SS Rocks!]

I teach sixth grade social studies (ancient civilizations), and my students come in with limited map skills. I'd say about half understand the cardinal directions. 1/4 or less understand latitude and longitude. I'd say that general world geography (locations of continents) is limited as well. Knowledge about ancient civilizations, with the exception of Egypt, is very limited.

This could just be my school system but I'm not very impressed with the social studies knowledge they have coming into sixth grade.

[wig]

It depends on what they have been taught before. Don't assume anything. If they don't know it, teach it to them. I use maps in Bible History class. It's a valuable skill to know and it enhances their understanding of the culture during that time.

[mercygate]

Thanks! You have set me up for a good start!

If I can figure out how to capture the images [I have tried but they won't print], I will do a quick PowerPoint presentation of MapQuest satellite photos startng with our church and then back out to New York (where our diocese came from in the 1820s), back to Maryland (where NYC 'came from), back to London, then Rome, Jerusalem, Sinai, Egypt, Canaan, and all the way back to Haran and Ur of the Chaldees, where Abram started out . . .

I have a simple (very simple) map of the Fertile Crescent that looks like green airbrush. I will walk them through the latitude-longitude thing and show them where our town is and where Jerusalem is.

I've made a map of the mountains and of Canaan, showing altitudes and giving annual average rainfall -- which can vary by as much as 30 inches in sites only 15 miles apart.

Again: you are a wonderful help!