Unit one – Geography Developing Map skills Map Skills Review Unit one – Geography Developing Map skills

The Geographer’s Tools Globes and Maps: As people explored the Earth, they collected information about it. Mapmakers wanted to present this information correctly. The best way was to put it on a globe, a round ball that represented the Earth. OwlTeacher.com

The Geographer’s Tools Continued Because globes are not practical or easy to use to carry, flat maps were invented. However, the earth is round and a map is flat. Mapmakers had to find ways to make maps accurate.

Globes and Maps The most accurate way to present information on the islands, continents, and bodies of water of the world is to put it all on a globe, a round ball like the Earth itself. The only difference between a globe and the Earth itself is the scale, or size, represented on the globe.

Globes and maps continued Globes have a disadvantage: They cannot be complete enough to be useful and at the same time be small enough to be convenient. Therefore, people invented flat maps.

The Hemispheres OwlTeacher.com

maps Maps try to show the Earth, which is round, on a flat surface. This causes distortion, or a change in accuracy of the shapes and distances of places. It is impossible to show the Earth on a flat surface without some distortion.

Developing map skills It’s important to learn how to read maps. Maps are used to display all kinds of information. Maps may illustrate Political, physical, climatic, religious, populations and other kinds of information.

Developing map skills Continued 2 ____________ maps show where the countries, capitals and major cities are located. ____________ maps show the features of the earth’s surface such as mountains, rivers, lakes and plains are located. ________________ maps show where people live. Using a population map, you can find where the major population centers are, as well as those areas where few people live. Choices: Political, Physical, Population

Developing map skills Continued 3 To use a map, you must know how to read a map. On most maps, the top of the map is north. However, when using a map, it is important to check the ___________________ _____________. The compass rose is a symbol on the map that shows where ___________________ , _________________, East and _______________ are on the map. When a map does not contain a compass rose, assume that the ________ of the map is north, west is _________________, east is ________________ and south is at the bottom of the map. Choices: Compass Rose, North, South, West, top, left, right

Examples of a compass rose More detailed Simple