1. Basic Geography Skills
WG SOL 1

2. Two types of maps:
General Purpose: includes political and physical maps
Thematic: A thematic map displays special features such as population, climate, vegetation, precipitation etc.

3. Political and Physical Maps
Political Maps
Physical maps represent what a region looks like by showing its major physical features, such as hills and plains.
Political maps show political borders: continents and countries.
Political maps also include symbols and labels for capitals, cities and towns.

4. Important Map Terms: Compass Rose: shows map orientation
(north, south, east, and west)
Scale: shows what a measurement on a map is equal to in real life
Legend: a key

5. Location, location location: 2 Types
Absolute location: specific address, latitude or longitude
Relative location: in relation to another place: north/south/right/left etc.

6. Sources of Geographic Information:
GIS-Geographic Information Systems
Satelite Images
Maps
Databases
Field work
Photographs
Globes

7. Maps show information using:
Symbols: = a church
Colors: represent changes in elevation, water is usually blue
Lines: usually a river
Boundaries: usually a bold line
Contours: lines indicate changes in elevation

8. Mental Maps Mental Map is a map produced by someone’s mind
Uses: 1. daily activities such as going to school or driving to church
2. Give directions
3. Understand world events
Ways developed and refined:
1. Comparing to a real map
2. Describing the location
3. Describing the relative location

9. Understanding Globes
Lines of Latitude – Imaginary horizontal lines around the globe.
*Also called Parallels
Lines of Longitude –
Imaginary vertical lines around the globe.
*Also called Meridians
Together, these lines form the global grid. Every place on the earth has its own set of coordinates on the global grid.

10. How Latitude and Longitude Form the Global Grid
OwlTeacher.com

11. The Hemispheres
OwlTeacher.com

12. Which 2 hemisphere’s do we live in?

13. THE GLOBAL GRID
The Earth is divided by latitude and longitude lines. There are several important lines to know on the earth's surface:
#1 is the ARCTIC CIRCLE found at 66 ½ o NORTH of the Equator
#2 is the TROPIC OF CANCER found at 23 ½ o NORTH of the Equator
#3 is the EQUATOR which splits the earth into two hemispheres at 0o Latitude
#4 is the TROPIC OF CAPRICORN found 23 ½ o SOUTH of the Equator.
#5 is the ANTARCTIC CIRCLE found at 66 ½ o SOUTH of the Equator 6
#6 is the PRIME MERIDIAN which runs north to south at 0o LONGITUDE

14. Pencils down.....just listen! Use the pink map cards....

15. East West, North South on the Earth
The N tells us we’re north of the Equator. The S tells us we’re south of the Equator.
The E tells us that we’re east of the Prime Meridian. The W tells us that we’re west of the Prime Meridian.
(N, W)
(N, E)
(S, W)
(S, E)

16. East West, North South on the Earth
That means all points in North America will have a North latitude and a West longitude because it is North of the Equator and West of the Prime Meridian.
(N, W)
Prime Meridian

17. East West, North South on the Earth
What would be the latitude and longitude directions in Australia? ?
Prime Meridian
If you said South and East , you’re right!

18. So Where is (0,0)?
The origin point (0,0) is where the equator intersects the prime meridian.
(0,0) is off the western coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.

19. See If You Can Tell In Which Quarter These Lon/Lats Are Located
1. 41°N, 21°E
2. 37°N, 76°W
3. 72°S, 141°W
4. 7°S, 23°W
5. 15°N, 29°E
6. 34°S, 151°E A B D C

20. In Summary!

21. Positioning on the Earth’s Surface
North Pole
South Pole
Latitude and Longitude together enable
the fixing of position on the Earth’s surface.
Prime Meridian
0o Longitude
Longitude 60o West
Longitude 30o West
90o
Longitude 30o East
Longitude 60o East
66½o
Latitude 23½o North
Tropic of Cancer
23½o
21st June
22nd December
22nd Sept
20th March
90oW
60oW
30oW
90oE
30oE
60oE
Equator
Latitude 0o
23½o
900
Latitude 23½o South
Tropic of Capricorn
Longitude 90o West
Longitude 90oEast

22. Now you’re ready to find some locations on a map!

23. Activity:
Bingo with Latitude

24. Honors Assignment: Create a Map
You will be using a mental map to create a paper map.
The mental map will be your route to school.
Be sure to include your TODALS!
You will also include step by step written instructions.