1. Warm Up: Match each number choice on the left with ONE letter choice on the right
1. Region
2. Movement
3. Location
4. Place
5. Human-Environment Interaction
A. Longitude 52◦
B. The Southeast
C. The Avenues Mall
D. Hydro Electric Power
E. Sending an
1 B
2 E
3 A
4 C
5 D

2. Map Skills Unit 1 Day 2

3. What is a map? Now what does that mean?
A map is a two-dimensional graphic representation of places on Earth’s surface.
A map projection way of drawing a curved surface on flat paper.
Now what does that mean?

4. Problem of Distortion
Features are stretched to put Earth’s information onto a map.

5. Distortion!!!

7. Problem with DISTORTION (continued)
Its impossible to accurately reflect a curved surface on a flat surface.

8. There are three basic types of maps:
--PHYSICAL--
--POLITICAL--
--THEMATIC--

9. What is a physical map? Shows the natural features of the Earth.
Does not contain man-made features.
For example: A physical map would be a map of what you would see if you were looking down on Earth from space.

10. When you look at this map, what do you see?
Notice you do not see country borders or city markings. These divisions are created by people. For example, there is no actual line dividing Texas from its bordering states.
Although some astronauts (with the use of binoculars believe it or not) are able to see roads, large ocean tankers, and even the Great Pyramids from space, at very high altitudes, none of these are visible and all you are left with are natural land formations.

11. Political Maps
Unlike physical maps, political maps show how humans have impacted the landscape. For example: city names, roads, country borders, etc. are all part of political maps.
Political maps change frequently (physical maps change very, very slowly through geologic processes) and must be redrawn often. A political map of the world that is 50 years old is no longer accurate.
Wars and ethnic conflict are two major causes political maps change.

12. Political Maps

13. Thematic Maps
Thematic maps can represent a variety of information including things like climate, precipitation, vegetation, elevation, population, life expectancy, etc.
Thematic maps are generally used when you are looking at a single piece of information.

15. A classroom is set up in the following manner…
= Student Desk

16. Now choose what you want to know…
I would like to know which pizza toppings students prefer to eat from the following list:
Pepperoni, Hamburger, Cheese, or Sausage.
I will now ask the students to choose from this list of toppings and record the results.

17. Now you must choose a way to represent the information you have gathered. I have chosen to use different colors so that we may see the distribution of topping preferences.

18. For example, the thematic map of my classroom may look like this…
Pepperoni
Hamburger
Cheese
Sausage

19. According to this thematic map of the classroom, which pizza topping is the most popular?
It’s Pepperoni!

20. Map Components
Title
Grid
Compass
Key or Legend
Scale

23. Confusion on Latitude and Longitude
Latitude measures N and S of the Equator, and runs E and W
Longitude measures E and W of the Prime Meridian, and runs N and S
**Refer to pg.17 for an example**

27. TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT BE CREATIVE!
You are now going to create YOUR OWN map!
You may choose from the following TYPES of maps: Political OR Physical
You may choose a place you know, a place you WANT to know, or a place from your IMAGINATION!
You MUST include the following: TITLE, COMPASS, KEY OR LEGEND AND SCALE
BE CREATIVE!