Geography Skills
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Is the Earth flat?
How do you
know whether it
is or isn’t?
Who made the
first map? Or
globe?
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What do maps
show us?
Earth’s surface,
political borders,
population,
geography, ect.
Geography
Latitude and Longitude
How is the Earth Broken Down?
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Hemispheres
What is a
hemisphere?
How many?
What are they?
Which oceans
are located in
the Western?
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Imaginary lines
to divide the
Earth into
sections.
Hemi=half
Sphere=circle
Latitude
The starting point for measuring
latitude is the equator
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Latitude lines are
also known as
parallels.
Latitude lines are
measured north
and south from
the equator, which
is located at 0
degrees.
Latitude
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There are 90 degrees
from the equator to
the North Pole and 90
degrees from equator
to the South Pole.
If latitudinal lines
range from 0-90 how
do they increase?
Discuss with your
group.
Lines of Latitude or Parallels
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Lines of latitude or
parallels go
around the globe.
These lines are
sometimes referred
to as “flatitudes”
because these lines
lay flat on the map
or globe.
The equator is the
“earth’s belt”.
Longitude
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The staring point
for measuring
longitude is the
Prime Meridian
Longitude
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Longitude lines are also known as
meridians.
Lines of longitude are measured in
degrees (east and west) of the Prime
Meridian, which is 0 degrees
longitude.
When travelers cross this line they
change the date ahead or back.
What line is it?
Lines of Longitude
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Lines of Longitude
or meridians go up
and down the
globe.
They go they go
the “long way”
(“long”-itude).
How do
longitudinal lines
increase?
More Notes
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We use Latitude (parallels that go
around the globe) and Longitude
(meridians that go up and down the
“long” way to find specific places in
the world. These places are called
exact locations.
Exact Locations
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When we write exact locations or points,
we always write latitude first!!
We always write either a N or a S to show
direction from the equator.
Remember LA- Latitude comes before
LO- Longitude.
Longitude is written second we write E or
W to show direction from the Prime
Meridian.
Practice Exact Locations
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30 S, 120 E
60 N, 90 E
0 , 60 W
30 N, 150 W
0, 0
Where are these
locations?
Map Skills
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1. Cardinal Directions- North, South, East
and West
2. Intermediate Directions- NE, SW, NW
and SE
3. Compass Rose- drawing that shows
direction
4. Label compass rose
Create your own compass rose for
homework.
Map Skills
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5. A map Scale tells how much smaller
the distance on a map is compared to the
actual distance.
6. Symbol- stands for something else
7. A map Key tells what they symbol on a
map stands for.
8. Some maps use locators to show where
the subject area of the main map.
Let’s practice in your book.
Types of Maps
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9. Political Maps- shows
information such as countries, states
and cities.
10. Physical Maps- shows Earth’s
natural features
Elevation maps show the height of
land above sea level.
Relief maps show changes in
elevation
Types of Maps
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12. A Historical Map shows
information about the past or where
past events took place
13. Distribution map shows how
things such as language, religion etc.
are distributed throughout an area.
These are also called special purpose
or thematic maps.
Maps
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What do we mainly use today?
List as many uses for these “new
maps”. Disadvantages as well.
Be ready to list and explain.
Be able to identify all aspects of a
map, find map scale, and types of
maps. You will use these skills all
year long. 
HOMEWORK
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Find latitude and longitude on the
map provided.