UNIT 1:
The Geographer’s
Toolbox
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TEXTBOOK: CHAPTERS 1 -3
Map Elements
Bell Work:
B Day 8/18
&
A Day 8/19
1. Read page 18 in your textbook.
2. Have out homework from last
class
◦Vocabulary Practice Worksheet in
Notebook
Can you read
and create a
map and all of
its elements?
3. Copy homework on board into
planner & take one sheet from the
black tray (due in 2 class days, to
be turned in)
Latitude: imaginary
lines of measurement
that run parallel to
the Equator
Equator
Lines of Latitude are
measured North (N)
and South (S) of the
Equator in degrees.
Longitude:
imaginary lines of
measurement
that run between
the North and
South Poles
Lines of Longitude
are measured East
(E) and West (W) of
the Prime Meridian
in degrees.
Prime
Meridian
Coordinates
Coordinates are
where lines of
latitude (measured
as N or S) meet lines
of longitude
(measured as W or E)
The Prime
Meridian divides
the Earth into
the Western and
Eastern
Hemispheres
The Equator
divides the Earth
into the
Northern and
Southern
Hemispheres
What’s the difference?
GLOBE
MAP
- 3D model of the earth
- 2D (flat) image of the earth or parts of it
- Lacks precise detail
- ALL MAPS HAVE DISTORTION
- Shows the world’s
landmasses without
distortions caused by
flattening
◦ Maps cannot show things exactly as they are
- Maps focus on a theme, such as…
◦ Political boundaries
◦ Physical landforms
◦ Roads and streets
◦ Locations of interest
Travel Notes
1. For this learning, you will travel around the room with your
notebook, completing activities and taking notes at your own
pace.
2. You may work with a partner, but stay on task or you will be
asked to separate.
3. Keep an eye on the timer.
4. In order to avoid crowding, the activities are repeated in
more than one spot – make sure you check that you have not
already done that activity.
5. Keep your materials out of the way to avoid tripping /
accidents.
Notes: What components should maps have?
Title
Scale:
shows real-life distance or size
Labels/Symbols:
Explain map features
Compass Rose:
shows direction & orientation
Legend:
Explain symbols, colors, etc
Activity for Map Components
1. Create a quick treasure map, including the use of these five major
components of mapping:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Title
Scale [create one that is realistic for your map]
Labels / Symbols
Compass Rose
Legend (Key)
(Optional) Latitude and Longitude
2. Make sure your name is on your map and post it up on the bulletin
board.
Notes: Reading and Creating Scale
Scale shows the distance or size
represented on a map or globe.
Use the information on the board to learn
how to use and create scale.
Activity: Reading and Creating Scale
1. Use your desktop and a dry erase marker to create a scale on the top
left quadrant of your desk.
2. Your scale can use whatever unit of measurement you want (feet,
meters, miles, km).
3. Draw a line on the bottom half of your desk and use your new scale
skills to determine the distance represented by the line.
4. If you have time: Once you figure out the distance represented by
your line, erase it and draw a new one. Then switch desks with a
partner and use their scale on their distance line. Check each other’s
answers!
Notes: Absolute and Relative Location
There are two types of location:
1. Absolute location: The exact spot on
earth where a place can be found
◦ Can be shown in two ways:
1. Latitude and Longitude coordinates
◦ Ex: The city of Regina (Canada) is located at
50⁰ N, 105⁰ W
2. Street Address
◦ Ex: 1513 W Adams St. Anderson, KY 53349
2. Relative location: where a place is
located in relation to another place
◦ Described through using the cardinal directions.
◦ Ex: Edmonton is north of Calgary
◦ Ex: Inukjuak is located on the eastern coast of Hudson Bay
Activity: Absolute and Relative Location
◦ Please complete this activity with one or two partners.
◦ Using your textbook, select a political map with your partner(s). Use the
atlas section(s) of your textbook for the best maps.
◦ Switch notebooks with your partner(s). On your own, study the map that
you have chosen and create four questions for your partner to answer in
their notebook. Two questions should focus on absolute location and two
questions should focus on relative location.
◦ Use the notes sheet and pages 14 and 19 in your textbook for additional
help with absolute and relative location.
Homework: Creating a Map
Make sure you have the homework sheet! It is full sized, so that should be a
hint. 
Instructions:
◦ Create a map of a location. Be as clear and precise as possible, because
someone else will be using it to answer questions.
◦ Your map can be one of your choice, but try to stick to something that you
know – your bedroom, your house, your neighborhood, Creekside Middle
School, your route to school, etc.
◦ Include the following map elements:
Title
Compass Rose
Scale (do your best and try to be accurate)
Symbols / Labels
Map Author Name
Legend (Key)
Map Quiz Topics
Map Skills:
- Scale
- Direction
- Using Latitude and Longitude
- Reading maps
th
7
Grade Social
Studies:
Week 3
PEOPLE AND CULTURES
CLIMATE
GOVERNMENT
Monday, August 24
Tuesday, August 25
Turn in your Map Homework assignment to
the correct black tray:
◦ Block 2: top tray
◦ Block 3: middle tray
◦ Block 4: bottom tray
We will be going over the map quiz when
class begins.
Scale Review
On the scale:
On the map:
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅
𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒆
(centimeters or inches)
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆
𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕
(miles or kilometers)
X
÷
=
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅
𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒑
(centimeters or inches)
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆
𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕
(miles or kilometers)
=
What exactly is “culture”?
Culture: the set of beliefs,
values, and practices that a
group of people share
Example: In New Zealand, the native Maori
people share many beliefs and practices.
Culture trait: an activity or
behavior that people in a
culture participate in
Example: Part of Maori tradition includes
facial tattoos, which can represent status
in a clan or achievements in life.
How do cultures become unique
and spread to new areas?
Culture Region:
An area where a culture is shared
Example: The Midwest, South, East Coast, and West Coast
are all American culture regions.
Cultural Diversity: the traits that make each
culture unique
Example: In America, we may greet our friends with a hug,
but in other countries, friends may be greeted with a kiss on
the cheek.
Cultural Diffusion: the spread of culture traits
from one region to another
Example: Immigrants bring traditions from their old country
to their new ones.
What’s the difference between
culture and ethnicity?
Ethnic Group: a group of people
who share a common culture
and ancestry
Example: People who are native Israelis are an
ethnic group that likely share Jewish culture.
weirdos
Ethnocentrism: the belief that
one’s own culture is superior to
the culture of others
Example: Hitler was ethnocentric; he believed
Germany to be the best of all countries and
cultures.
THIS MAP IS ETHNOCENTRIC AND RACIST!
DON’T THINK LIKE THIS MAP!!!
Populations
Population: a total
number of people in a
given area
Population Density: a
measure of the average
number of people living in
an area
Example: In Carmel, 80,060 people live
within 48 square miles. The population
density of Carmel is 1,668 people per
square mile!
US Population Density (2000)
How do populations change?
Population change: the
growth or decline of total
population.
Populations can
change due to:
• Birth Rate
• Death Rate
• Migration
A population
pyramid can
show how much
growth a
country is
expected to have.
Cultural Collages
Talk to the other people in your group about aspects of their
culture, such as:
Customs
Food
Activities
Language
Music
Sports
Religion
The Arts
Holidays
After talking with your group, choose one or more cultural traits
that you heard about from someone else that you find interesting.
Add an image of the cultural trait(s), with a caption, to your table’s
large piece of paper. Title your new collage “Our Cultures”
What did you learn?
1. How are your classmates’ cultural experiences similar
to yours?
2. How are they different?
3. Did you learn anything interesting about someone that
you never knew before?
4. What does this exercise tell us about the importance
of studying and seeking to understand other cultures?
Wednesday, August 26
Thursday, August 27
1. Weather vs. Climate:
- https://youtu.be/VHgyOa70Q7Y
2. Climate Graphs Introduction
3. Climate Foldable Activity
4. Climate Activities Worksheet
Climate Graphs (Climographs):
How to “see” climate
Climate Graphs (Climographs)
= Temperature
= Precipitation
Climate
Foldable
- Sections on Outside: 4.6 cm each
1. Dry (Desert or Arid)
2. Humid Temperate
(Mild or Temperate)
3. Humid Equatorial (Tropical)
4. Tundra or Ice (Polar)
5. Humid Cold / Continental
(and Highland)
- Topics on Inside: 10 cm each
- Location
- Characteristics
- Plants and Animals
Wednesday, August 26
Thursday, August 27
- Use pages 46-47, your device,
and the class handout for your
information
-https://sites.google.com/site/
climatetypes/
- Glue into Notebook when
complete and pick up the
climate worksheet from the
tray to work on
Outside of foldable
Inside of foldable
Friday, August 28
Monday, August 31
Bell Work
-Read pages 64-65 in your textbook
When finished with your bell work, please
pick up a “Governments” Worksheet and glue
it into your notebook.
Friday, August 28
Monday, August 31
1. Using your textbook and the internet, fill in the Governments notes
page.
2. When done, come up and pick out a country from the bucket
3. Use reliable sources to research your assigned country’s
government
4. Take notes on the Google document for your class (link on the
Social Studies homework page under the Resources section)
-http://everestcrm.weebly.com/ss-homework.html