A Boundary Is Not Always a Wall

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil; drawing or spoken answers are welcome.
• Topic notes: Country boundary: the mapped political limit between countries. Coastline: the edge where land meets sea. Watershed divide: a boundary separating land draining to different outlets. Route: a line showing a travel connection.
• Original exercise cards: A map line separates Canada and the United States. / A map line follows the edge of an island. / A fictional ridge separates two drainage basins. / A fictional dotted line shows a ferry trip. / A map line marks the shore of an ocean. / Rain on opposite sides flows toward different rivers. / A map line connects train stops. / A map line divides two named countries.

Learn the idea

A boundary marks a limit on a map or in a rule. A country boundary separates political areas; a coast separates land and sea; a watershed boundary separates drainage areas. A route is a path connecting places, not a boundary just because it is a line. Check the legend’s meaning.

Country boundary: the mapped political limit between countries. Coastline: the edge where land meets sea. Watershed divide: a boundary separating land draining to different outlets. Route: a line showing a travel connection.

Find what the line means: a country limit, the edge of land and sea, a divide between drainage areas or a travel route. Ask an adult to read the notes and cards aloud. Point, draw or say your answer.

1. Ask an adult to read the four notes. Find the words Country boundary, Coastline, Watershed divide, Route.
2. Find what the line means: a country limit, the edge of land and sea, a divide between drainage areas or a travel route.
3. Read the worked answer. Then try the other cards and explain which words helped you choose.
4. Point to, draw or say two different examples: one for Country boundary and one for Coastline. Explain how their clues differ.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

New card: “A map line divides two named countries.” Match it with a note, then point to or say the words that helped. Check: The card says: “A map line divides two named countries.” That matches Country boundary. Country boundary is the mapped political limit between countries.

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