Geography: Mapping Skills & Map Making Social Studies

Map and Geographic Skills

Unit 1 Vocabulary—Map and Graph Skills Absolute location atlas bar graph cardinal directions cartographer circle graphs climographs compass rose density distortion Equator Mercator Projection intermediate directions latitude legend (key) line graph longitude orientation Physical map Polar projection political map relief population maps scale primary resource map Prime Meridian globe relative location Robinson Projection

Scale Shows the ratio between a unit of length on a map and a unit of distance on the earth

Lines of latitude Imaginary lines that measure distance north and south of the equator

Lines of Longitude Imaginary lines that measure distance east and west of the Prime Meridian

Relative Location Describes a place in comparison to other places around it

Orientation Direction -- usually shown on a map using a compass rose or directional indicator

Sources of geographic information Geographic Information Systems (GIS), field work, satellite images, photographs, maps, globes, data bases, primary sources

give directions to others understand world events Mental Maps Help people carry out daily activities (ex. Route to school or the store) give directions to others understand world events

4 ways mental maps can be developed and refined Compare sketched maps to more formal maps such as those in an atlas or book Describe the location of places in terms of reference points (the equator or Prime Meridian

4 ways mental maps can be developed and refined cont. Can describe the location of places in terms of geographic features and land forms (ex. West of the Mississippi River, or north of the Gulf of Mexico)

4 ways mental maps can be developed and refined cont. Describing the location of places in terms of the human characteristics of a place ( ex: languages, types of housing dress, recreation, customs or traditions

What are the standard methods of showing information on a map Symbols Colors Lines Boundaries Contours

Thematic Maps Thematic maps show a theme or a particular idea. There are many different types.

population distribution economic activity resources languages Types of Thematic maps Population density population distribution economic activity resources languages ethnicity

Types of Thematic maps cont. Climate precipitation vegetation physical political

Ways map can show change Changes in Knowledge Map of Columbus’s time Satellite images changes in Place Names Formosa, Taiwan, Republic of China Palestine, Israel, Occupied Territories

Ways map can show change cont. changes in Boundaries Africa in the 1910s and in the 1990s Europe before WWII and after WWII and since 1990

Ways map can show change cont. Changes in perspectives of place names--Arabian Gulf v. Persian Gulf Sea of Japan v. East Sea Middle East v. North Africa and Southwest Asia

Ways map can show change cont. Changes in Disputed areas-- Korea Western Sahara Former Yugoslavia Kashmir

All three types have distortion Map Projections Three types of map projections Mercator Polar Robinson All three types have distortion

Map Projections cont. You can distort area, shape, distance and direction A Mercator projection is best used for ship navigation because of the nice straight lines

Mercator projection Nice Straight lines

Map Projections cont. A Polar projection is best used in airplane navigation. It is easy to plot the Great Circle Routes used to fly long distances A Robinson projection is best used for data representation. Most of the maps in textbooks are Robinson projections

Robinson Projection Latitude lines are straight. Longitude lines are curved.

Used to show parts of a whole or percentages Pie Chart Used to show parts of a whole or percentages

Used to show items in relation to others Bar graph Used to show items in relation to others

Used to show loss or gain or information over several time frames Line Graph Used to show loss or gain or information over several time frames

Population Pyramid Shows the population of a country or region. Allows you to break into male and female and by age groups

Climograph J F M A M J J A S Shows precipitation and temperature averages over a one year period

Practical applications of Geography Recycling programs conversion of land airport expansion bicycle paths water sources air quality mass transit

Social Studies Online Introduction Mapping It Out Social Studies Online Introduction

Blueprint Skill Geography Grade 2 Recognize that a map contains elements such as title, scale, symbols, legends, grids, and cardinal and intermediate directions.

What’s on a map? Maps have a lot of information, but you need to know how to read them. There are several parts to a map which explain details and help you really see where you are and where you're going.

Legend Maps often have symbols to represent such features as highways, small roads, campgrounds, and rest areas. These symbols are listed in the legend.

Compass The compass shows the directions on a map: north, south, east, and west.

Index The index tells you where to find a specific place on a map. Depending on the size and type of map you're using, the index can help you locate a city, town, or street.

Scale The scale helps you measure the distance betweeen two places. When you know the distance you can calculate how long the trip will take.

Resources What’s on a map? Map Adventures (handout)

Social Studies: Introduction to maps

What is a map? A generalized view of an area, usually some portion of Earth’s surface, as seen from above at a greatly reduced size Any geographical image of the environment A two-dimensional representation of the spatial distribution of selected phenomena

Why make maps? To represent a larger area than we can see To show a phenomenon or process we can’t see with our eyes To present information concisely To show spatial relationships

Represent a larger area

Show what we can’t see

Present info concisely

Show spatial relationships

How do we read maps? Maps are selective views of reality Size of the map relative to reality (scale) What’s on the map (symbolization) Shape of the map (projection)

Map scale Ratio of the distance on the map to the distance on the ground Scale is a fraction Larger area covered means larger denominator Larger denominator means smaller fraction So a large-scale map covers a small area

Large-scale Small-scale

Map scale Ratio of the distance on the map to the distance on the ground Graphic: Stays the same when photocopied Might not be right for the whole map

Map scale Verbal: 1 inch equals 10 miles Easy to understand Can change if photocopied

Map scale Representative fraction or ratio: 1:24,000 Units don’t matter Can change if photocopied

Map symbolization Symbols are a code instead of text Three kinds: point, line, area Consider shape, size, orientation, pattern, color, value

Point symbols Every symbol counts as one occurrence Qualitative points Indicate location Can also describe that location Quantitative points Show a distribution Indicate a value (graduated symbols)

Indicate location Describe location

Show a distribution

Indicate a value

Line symbols One-dimensional Mostly taken for granted (borders, roads) Isolines connect same values Flow-line maps indicate value by width of line

Isolines (Contour lines)

Flow-line maps

Area symbols Each territory or region has one value Differences in kind Differences in value Choropleth maps Usually, darker indicates more Cartograms distort area to show value

Differences in kind

Differences in kind

Differences in value (Choropleth)

Cartogram

Topographic maps Also called quadrangles Nearly 54,000 for the U.S. Done by the US Geological Survey (USGS) since 1897 Map out the entire country in a standard fashion

Topographic maps Till the 1940s, you climbed to the highest point and plotted what you could see from there Aerial photography after WWII Two overlapping photos are put in a stereoscope 10 photos for each 7.5 minute map

Topographic maps Show 2D features, point, line and area; also show 3D via contour lines Common symbols are in the appendix of the text Note the contour interval at the bottom of the map

Map-reading exercise

Class 1b: Introduction to maps

What is a map? A generalized view of an area, usually some portion of Earth’s surface, as seen from above at a greatly reduced size Any geographical image of the environment A two-dimensional representation of the spatial distribution of selected phenomena

Why make maps? To represent a larger area than we can see To show a phenomenon or process we can’t see with our eyes To present information concisely To show spatial relationships

Represent a larger area

Show what we can’t see

Present info concisely

Show spatial relationships

How do we read maps? Maps are selective views of reality Size of the map relative to reality (scale) What’s on the map (symbolization) Shape of the map (projection)

Map scale Ratio of the distance on the map to the distance on the ground Scale is a fraction Larger area covered means larger denominator Larger denominator means smaller fraction So a large-scale map covers a small area

Large-scale Small-scale

Map scale Ratio of the distance on the map to the distance on the ground Graphic: Stays the same when photocopied Might not be right for the whole map

Map scale Verbal: 1 inch equals 10 miles Easy to understand Can change if photocopied

Map scale Representative fraction or ratio: 1:24,000 Units don’t matter Can change if photocopied

Map symbolization Symbols are a code instead of text Three kinds: point, line, area Consider shape, size, orientation, pattern, color, value

Point symbols Every symbol counts as one occurrence Qualitative points Indicate location Can also describe that location Quantitative points Show a distribution Indicate a value (graduated symbols)

Indicate location Describe location

Show a distribution

Indicate a value

Line symbols One-dimensional Mostly taken for granted (borders, roads) Isolines connect same values Flow-line maps indicate value by width of line

Isolines (Contour lines)

Flow-line maps

Area symbols Each territory or region has one value Differences in kind Differences in value Choropleth maps Usually, darker indicates more Cartograms distort area to show value

Differences in kind

Differences in kind

Differences in value (Choropleth)

Maps

The World Political Political maps show how people have divided places on the Earth into countries, states, cities and other units for the purpose of governing them.

The World Physical Physical maps show what the surface of the Earth looks like.

Oceans of the World The world has four major oceans. Atlantic Pacific Arctic Indian Pacific ocean Atlantic Arctic Indian

Global Climates Students generally associate Arctic and Antarctic with cold weather, so students could make the observation that the climate at the poles is cold. This map shows the general climate regions of the world.

World Religions Religious beliefs help define a people’s culture, so to understand a people, it is important to consider what religions influence that group.

Map Review What is the purpose of a Political map? To show borders of countries, states, cities

Map Review What is the purpose of a Physical map? Physical maps show what the surface of the world looks like

Map Review What are the four major oceans of the world? Atlantic Pacific Arctic Indian

Map Review Why is it important to understand a peoples religion? because religion helps shape their culture

Latitude and Longitude The earth is divided into lots of lines called latitude and longitude.

Lines Longitude lines run north and south. Latitude lines run east and west. The lines measure distances in degrees. Latitude Longitude

Where is 0 degree? Equator The equator is 0 degree latitude. It is an imaginary belt that runs halfway point between the North Pole and the South Pole. Equator

P R I M E D A N Where is 0 degree? The prime meridian is 0 degrees longitude. This imaginary line runs through the United Kingdom, France, Spain, western Africa, and Antarctica.

Hemispheres By using the equator and prime meridian, we can divide the world into four hemispheres, north, south, east, and west.

Compass A compass is a tool that helps the user know what direction one is headed. On a map, a compass or a compass rose helps the user locate these directions.

Source: http://aerocompass.larc.nasa.gov Compass Rose The needle on a compass is magnetized to point to the earth's north magnetic pole. Thus with a compass, a person can roughly tell which direction they are headed. There are four major or cardinal directions on a compass- north, south, east & west. In between are the directions northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest. Direction Quiz Source: http://aerocompass.larc.nasa.gov

Directions The cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. The intermediate directions are northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest. They help describe the location of places in relation to other places.

Scale Maps are made to scale; that is, there is a direct connection between a unit of measurement on the map and the actual distance. For example, each inch on the map represents one mile on Earth. So, a map of a town would show a mile-long strip of fast food joints and auto dealers in one inch.

Scale

Time Zones The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, corresponding to 24 hours in a day. As the earth rotates, the sun shines in different areas, moving from east to west during the course of a day. Places that have the same longitude will be in the same time zone.

Map Legends The legend is the key to unlocking the secrets of a map. Objects or colors in the legend represent something on the map. Religions Legend

Can you understand this legend?

Age Expectancy Legend

Sites to visit Look up Latitude and Longitude for US Cities Maps and Map Skills Degrees, Latitude, & Longitude Worksheet Latitude and Longitude Map (lesson plan) Scale Time Zones Anchors Aweigh (a map adventure) Map Quiz Make Your Own Map Topography Maps U. S. Map Collection GeoSpy Game Globe Projector GeoGame