Grade: Grade 1 Subject: Social Studies Unit: Needs & Wants Lesson: 4 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Maps and Data

Learn

Maps and charts help us see information in pictures. We can use them to learn about the needs and wants of people in our community!

What is a Map?

A map is a drawing that shows where things are located. A community map might show:

  • Homes: Where people live (shelter is a need!)
  • Grocery stores: Where people buy food (food is a need!)
  • Schools: Where children learn (learning is a need!)
  • Parks: Where people play (fun is a want!)
  • Toy stores: Where people buy toys (toys are wants!)

What is a Chart?

A chart uses pictures or bars to show information. We can count and compare things using charts.

Picture Chart Example

Imagine a chart showing what 10 children want for their birthday:

  • Toys: 5 children
  • Books: 3 children
  • Games: 2 children

The chart helps us see that more children wanted toys than books or games!

Reading Maps and Charts

When you look at a map or chart, ask:

  1. What is this showing? Read the title.
  2. What do the pictures or symbols mean? Look at the key or legend.
  3. What can I count or compare? Look at the numbers.
  4. What does this tell me about needs and wants? Think about what you learned!

Examples

Example 1: Community Map

The map shows: A neighborhood with 4 homes, 1 school, 1 grocery store, 1 hospital, and 2 parks.

What we can learn:

  • Places for NEEDS: homes (shelter), grocery store (food), hospital (health care), school (learning)
  • Places for WANTS: parks (fun and exercise)
  • There are more homes than stores because every family needs a place to live!

Example 2: Picture Chart - Class Favorites

The chart shows: What 12 students chose as their favorite item.

Item Number of Students Need or Want?
Pizza (food) 4 Need
Video games 5 Want
Water bottle 3 Need

What we can learn: Most students picked a want (video games) as their favorite, but needs like food and water are still important!

Example 3: Bar Chart - Family Spending

The chart shows: Where a family spent money last week.

  • Food: $50 (tallest bar)
  • Clothes: $20
  • Toys: $10
  • Movies: $15

What we can learn:

  • The family spent the MOST money on food - a need!
  • They spent LESS on toys and movies - wants!
  • Families often spend more money on needs than wants.

Practice

Use what you learned about maps and charts to answer these questions.

1. What is a map?

Think about what a map shows you.

2. Look at a map of your school. You see the cafeteria. Does the cafeteria help with a need or a want? Explain.

3. A community map shows 3 grocery stores and 1 toy store. Why might there be more grocery stores than toy stores?

4. A picture chart shows that 8 children like ice cream and 4 children like broccoli. Which food is probably a "want" for most children? How do you know?

5. On a map, you see a hospital and a movie theater. Which place helps with a need? Which helps with a want?

6. A chart shows a family bought: bread, milk, eggs, and candy. Circle the NEEDS: bread, milk, eggs, candy.

7. Why do we use charts to show information instead of just writing words?

Think about how pictures help us understand.

8. A bar chart shows that a school has 5 classrooms, 1 gym, and 1 library. All of these help with what need?

9. You are making a map of places in your neighborhood. Name two places that help with NEEDS and two places that help with WANTS.

10. Create your own chart! Ask 5 friends: "Would you rather have a new toy or a healthy lunch?" Draw a simple chart showing the results. Which answer got more votes?

11. A map shows a farm outside of town. How does the farm help people in the community with their needs?

12. Look at a chart showing how many drinks were sold: Water (20), Juice (15), Soda (10). Which drink that is a NEED was sold the most?

Check Your Understanding

Answer these questions to make sure you understand maps and data.

Question 1: What is the difference between a map and a chart?

Show Answer

A map shows WHERE things are located in a place. A chart uses pictures, bars, or numbers to show HOW MANY or to compare things.

Question 2: How can a community map help us understand needs and wants?

Show Answer

A community map shows us where places are that help with needs (like grocery stores for food, homes for shelter, hospitals for health) and places for wants (like toy stores, parks, and movie theaters).

Question 3: If a chart shows that a family spent more money on food than on toys, what does that tell us?

Show Answer

It tells us that families usually spend more money on needs (like food) than on wants (like toys). Needs are more important because we cannot live without them.

Next Steps

  • Draw a simple map of your neighborhood or classroom
  • Label places that help with needs and wants
  • Create a chart about something in your life (favorite foods, toys, etc.)
  • Move on to the next lesson about Claim and Evidence Writing when ready