Latitude and Longitude
Words to Know
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Sphere
Hemisphere
Equator
Prime Meridian
Latitude
Parallels
Longitude
Meridians
Sphere
A 3-D object shaped like a ball.
Hemisphere
Half of a sphere.
Equator
An imaginary line that divides earth into the
northern and southern hemispheres. The equator
is the 0° line of latitude.
Prime Meridian
An imaginary line that divides the earth into the
eastern and western hemispheres. The prime
meridian is the 0° line of longitude.
Prime Meridian
Western
Hemisphere
Eastern
Hemisphere
Prime Meridian
If you were to look at the Prime Meridian on a map
it would look like this...
Latitude
Imaginary lines that measure the distance north or
south from the equator.
Latitude lines run east/west but measure north/south.
Latitude
North Pole (90° N)
[
Lines of
latitude are
numbered
from 0° at
the equator
to 90° N at
the North
Pole.
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
]
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
South Pole (90° S)
Lines of
latitude are
numbered
from 0° at
the equator
to 90° S.L.
at the
South Pole.
Latitude
The North Pole
is at 90° N
The equator
is at 0°
latitude. It
is neither
north nor
south. It is
at the center
between
north and
south poles.
The South Pole
is at 90° S
40° N is the 40°
line of latitude
north of the
equator.
40° S is the 40°
line of latitude
south of the
equator.
Parallels
Another name for lines of latitude.
Longitude
Imaginary lines that measure the distance east or west
from the prime meridian.
Longitude lines run north/south but measure east/west.
Longitude
Lines of longitude begin
at the Prime Meridian.
60° W is the
60° line of
longitude west
of the Prime
W
Meridian.
60° E is the
60° line of
longitude
east of the
E Prime
Meridian.
The Prime Meridian is located at 0°. It is
neither east or west.
Meridians
Another name for lines of longitude.
Latitude and Longitude Song
(Tune of Jingle Bells)
Latitude, latitude
Lines go round and round
Measuring north
Measuring south
From the equator.
Longitude, longitude
Lines go up and down
Measuring east
Measuring west
From the equator.
Oh, latitude, latitude
Lines go round and round
Measuring north
Measuring south
From the equator!
Oh, longitude, longitude
Lines go up and down
Measuring east
Measuring west
From the equator!
Activity
• Use popsicle sticks to
create a model of
latitude and longitude.
Application:
By combining latitude and
longitude, the exact location of any
place on earth can be located.
A location’s coordinates are written
____° N or S, ____ ° E or W
(Latitude is written first, then Longitude)
What country is located at 30°N and 90°W?
What country is located at 20°S and 130°E?
N
W
E
S
White Board Practice:
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
E
E
E
E
N
N
N
S
S
Assessment:
Use a paper plate to create a model of the
globe. Draw and label:
• equator
• prime meridian
• latitude lines including the degrees
• longitude lines including the degrees
• locate 20°S, 70°W and label it with a red dot