- Definition
Digital representations" are like computer pictures or models of places, showing them either flat (2D) or with depth (3D), which you can explore using online maps or interactive atlases.
Using an online map to see a 3D satellite view of a landmark like the Grand Canyon is an application of digital representations.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A digital representation is like a video game map of the real world, letting you explore places on a screen instead of walking there.
Ask your child: If we looked up our school on a satellite map, what would we see?
Common mix-up: Students might think a digital map is just a static picture. The key idea is that these are interactive models you can explore to see different information, like traffic or terrain.
Examples
- An interactive atlas online that lets you click on a country to see its population data.
- A weather app that shows an animated map of a rainstorm moving across your area.
- Using a program like Google Earth to 'fly' from one continent to another.
digital representations is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
