Mr. Perkins 8th Grade Geography The Coordinate System Classroom Script: Mr. Perkins: Good Morning Class! Class: Good morning Mr. Perkins! Mr. Perkins: Today we will learn about the coordinate system. Mr. Perkins: Please take out your notebook as we will have testable material you’ll want to write down. Mr. Perkins: Who can tell me where we are right now? Class: School, [insert schools address], your class.

What is our exact location on Earth? How would you tell a person exactly where you are if they have never been here? Classroom Script: Mr. Perkins: How would you tell a person exactly where you are, who hasn’t been here before? Class: [various responses, leading to] Coordinates.

What is our exact location on Earth? 36°02’17” North 114°58’51” West We use a gridded system to narrow down an exact location. This is an example of an Absolute Location. As a society we use Relative Location for directions or describing where a location is. “We are in the Southeast side of town.” or “Go Left onto Lake Mead PKWY and the store will be on the right.” Classroom Script: Mr. Perkins: We are at {insert actual schools coordinates} [the power point is set for city center Henderson, NV] Mr. Perkins: We use the coordinate system to narrow down our exact location. Or Absolute location. Class: Neat! Mr. Perkins: As a society we use Relative Location for directions or describing where a location is. “We are in the Southeast side of town.” or “Go Mr. Perkins: Left onto Lake Mead PKWY and the store will be on the right.”

Absolute Location Vs Relative Location Absolute location is a place's exact spot on a map, while relative location is an estimate of where a place is in relation to other landmarks. Absolute location is defined by latitude and longitude measurements. Relative location is used in conversational language and for giving rough directions. Mr. Perkins: Please take this time to write down the definitions for Absolute and Relative Location. Mr. Perkins: Absolute location is a place's exact spot on a map, defined by latitude and longitude measurements. Mr. Perkins: Relative location is an estimate of where a place is in relation to other landmarks, used in conversational language and for giving rough directions. https://www.reference.com/science/difference-between-absolute-relative-location-2a04a36dcfe816bf

Coordinate Terms degrees - A unit of measure used to determine absolute location; on globes and maps, lines of latitude and longitude are measured in degrees. minute - 1/60 of a degree. Second – 1/60 of a minute or 1/3600 of a degree. Mr. Perkins: The degree is a unit of measurement that is used to determine absolute location; on globes and maps, lines of latitude and longitude are measured in degrees. For more specific location we use Minutes that equal 1/60th of a degree. (city blocks) and seconds that equal 1/60th of a minute.(small buildings and trees) following the degree number to even further narrow a location.

Coordinate Breakdown Degree Minute Second Orientation 36° 02’ 17” North Degree Minute Second Orientation 114° 58’ 51” West Mr. Perkins: Lets break down a line of latitude. The red box is the degree with the ° degree symbol. Mr. Perkins: The minute is in the green box followed by an ‘ apostrophe to represent minutes Mr. Perkins: The Second is in the blue box and is followed by the a singular “ quotations symbol. Mr. Perkins: The Orientation indication for this Line of latitude is North or N. That say that this point is north of the Equator. Mr. Perkins: The same format is used for Longitude. Mr. Perkins: Who can tell me the degree of longitude? Class: (raises hand) 114° Mr. Perkins: Correct! Who can tell me the minute? Class: (raises hand) 58’ Mr. Perkins: Correct! Who can tell me the second? Class: (raises hand) 51” Mr. Perkins: Correct! Mr. Perkins: Now since our point is West what is it West of? Class: silence [not expecting an answer but correct answers would be Prime Meridian, or Greenwich, England.] Mr. Perkins: Greenwich, England Class: What? Mr. Perkins: Because that is where Royal Observatory is.

Longitude longitude lines - A series of imaginary lines, also called meridians, that run north and south, from one pole to the other; used to measure the distance east or west of the Prime Meridian in degrees. Mr. Perkins: With competing map makers the majority of the world decided on Greenwich, England due to Mr. Perkins: its popularity amongst many long voyage ships in 1884. Mr. Perkins: but what is a meridian? Class: A line going north to south Mr. Perkins: Correct, they are used to measure from East to West. Mr. Perkins: Class, Please write down the definition for Longitude.

Prime Meridian Prime Meridian - The line of longitude that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through Greenwich, England; it is designated 0° longitude and is the reference point from which lines of east and west longitude are measured. Mr. Perkins: Now that you know of the Prime Meridian, does anyone know what is its opposite? Class: Anti-Meridian Mr. Perkins: correct!! Anti-meridian. The anti-meridian runs on the opposite side of the planet and it splits the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Perkins: Class, Please write down the definition for Prime Meridian

Latitude latitude lines- A series of imaginary lines, also called parallels, that circle the Earth parallel to the Equator; used to measure a distance north or south of the Equator in degrees. Mr. Perkins: Now let move on to Latitude. These lines measure North and South of the equator. Mr. Perkins: Class, please write down its definition.

Equator Equator - An imaginary line that circles the globe at its widest point, dividing the Earth into two halves called hemispheres; used as a reference point from which north and south latitudes are measured. Mr. Perkins: Class, please write down equators definition. Mr. Perkins: Class, it is now time to distribute the class laptops. [or Ipads/ whatever will run the program]

Activity As a class, lets find the below location. Locate 38°53 North, 77°02 West What is at this absolute location? Is it man made or natural? What country is it in? Once everyone is ready Mr. Perkins: Class, please start up Google Earth and follow along. [give them a moment to get the program started.] Mr. Perkins: Class, which direction to I need to go with my mouse to get to 38°53 North? Class: Up/North Mr. Perkins: correct, as I go up/North my Latitude increases. Mr. Perkins: Now that I am at 38°53 North what direction do I need to go to get to 77°02? Class: right/East Mr. Perkins: Correct, now that we have centered on our coordinate what is here? Class: The White House Mr. Perkins: Is the White house man made or natural? Class: manmade Mr. Perkins: and what country is it in? Class: The United States of America Mr. Perkins: Perhaps that was too easy.

Practice 36°41North , 108°50 West 51°30 North , 0°04 West What is at this absolute location? Is it man made or natural? What country is it in? 51°30 North , 0°04 West Mr. Perkins: Class, it is your turn. Find first above location and write down the answers to the questions. Mr. Perkins: Please raise you hand once you found it. Mr. Perkins: [ walk through the class helping students ] Class: {Finished} Mr. Perkins: What was the location of the first point. Class: Ship Rock, NM? Mr. Perkins: how is it made? Class: Its Natural Mr. Perkins: Okay, lets find the second one. Mr. Perkins: Alright class what was it? Class: The London Bridge Mr. Perkins: is it manmade or natural? Class: Manmade! Mr. Perkins: What country is it in? Class: England

Activity You will use Google Earth to identify locations based on the coordinates on the work sheet. Finished early? Lets find the bonus ones 11°19 North , 142°34 East 25°00 North , 55°01 East Write your answers at the bottom on your sheet. Mr. Perkins: [Passes out worksheet] Mr. Perkins: Alright class you will have until [5-10 remaining in class] to finish the worksheet. What you don’t finish will be homework. [Make accommodations to students that might not have ability to use google earth at home] Mr. Perkins: Raise your hand if you have any questions or run into issues. Mr. Perkins: [ walk through the class helping students ]

Wrap up What is the absolute location of your home? Mr. Perkins: Alright class, did anyone get to the bonus questions? Class: Yes/No Mr. Perkins: That’s okay if you didn’t. Mr. Perkins: before we close the laptops. Find the absolute location of your home. Mr. Perkins: Please write it on the back of the worksheet. ~ Mr. Perkins: Lets put away the laptops. Class: Okay.

Define in your own words Absolute location Relative location Degree Latitude Longitude Prime Meridian Equator Mr. Perkins: Class for our last activity or homework I want you to define todays geography terms in your own words on a separate sheet of paper, to be turned in with your coordinates worksheet. Mr. Perkins: That concludes today class, any work you didn’t finish will be homework that is due tomorrow.