Social Studies - Map Skills
1. Geography – the study of the people and places of Earth
2.
Map – a representation, usually a flat surface, that shows the features of
an area of the earth
3. Globe - a sphere on which is depicted a map of the earth
4. Map Key/Legend- an area on a map that explains the symbols used on the map
5.
Symbol – a picture or mark used to represent something on a
a. A star on a map usually represent state capitals
b. A star in the middle of circle generally represent the capital of a country
6. Capital - the city or town that is the official seat of government in a country, state,
etc.: Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
7. Boundary - something that indicates bounds or limits
a. International boundary – locates the where one country begins and
ends; separates countries
b. State boundary – locates where states begin and end; separates states
c. Continental boundaries – locates where one continent begins and ends;
separates continents
Continent - one of the main landmasses of the globe
8.
a. Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica
9.
Compass - an instrument for determining directions, as by means of a freely rotating
magnetized needle that indicates magnetic north
10.
Directions - the line along which anything lies, faces, moves, etc., with
reference to the point or region toward which it is directed
11. Cardinal
points- the four chief directions of the compass
a. north, south, east, and west points
12.
Intermediate directions-
13.
Hemisphere- one half of the Earth’s surface
14.
Equator – imaginary line that divides the world into Northern and Southern
hemispheres, the starting point in middle of the globe for measuring latitude, 0° or zero
degrees
15.
Prime meridian – imaginary line that divides the world into Eastern and
Western hemispheres, the starting point for measuring longitude, , 0° or zero degrees
16.
Latitude – imaginary lines around the globe that run east to west; also called
parallels
17.
Longitude – imaginary lines around the globe that run between the North
Pole and the South Poles; also called meridians
18. Coastline
19. Scale
– a diagram found on a map that explains how to calculate distance; a series of
marks laid down at determinate distances, a certain relative or proportionate size
20.
Region – an area defined by certain features that set it apart from other
areas
21.
Location – where something can be found
22.
River - a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite
course
23.
Population – the people living in an area
24. Ocean - the vast body of salt water that covers almost three fourths of the earth's
surface
a. Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic Oceans
25. Sea
- the salt waters that cover the greater part of the earth's surface; more or less
definitely marked off by land boundaries; landlocked body of water.
27.
Elevation – the height of the land above sea level
28. Sea
level - the horizontal level corresponding to the surface of the sea at mean level
between high and low tide
29.
Landform - a specific geomorphic feature on the surface of the earth, such
as plains, plateaus, hills, and valleys
30. Mountain
range - a series of more or less connected mountains ranged in a line
a. The largest mountain range in the United States is the Rocky Mountain Range
31. Plain - an area of mainly flat land not significantly higher than surrounding areas and
with relatively minor differences in elevation, commonly less than 500 ft., within the
area
32.
Plateau – a high flat landform that rises steeply from the land around it
33.
Tundra - one of the vast, nearly flat, treeless plains of the arctic regions of
Europe, Asia, and North America
34.
Peninsula- an area of land almost completely surrounded by water except
for an isthmus connecting it with the mainland
a. Florida
35.
Basin – an area with a low center surrounded by higher land; bowl shaped
36.
Coast – a point of land that sticks out into water
37. Glacier
– a huge mass of slowly moving ice
38. Bay
– a body of water partly surrounded by land but open to the sea
39. Gulf
- a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land
40. Delta
– a triangle-shaped area at the mouth of a river