Geography Study Guide
Test is Thursday, December 17, 2015
1. Maps show where places are located.
2. A globe is a round map.
3. All maps should have three things: map key/legend,
title,
and a compass rose .
4. A map key/legend shows symbols used on the map.
5. A compass rose shows directions on a map: north, south, east, and west.
6. Locate the five oceans of the world on a map. (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian,
Arctic, and Southern).
7. Locate the seven continents on a map and identify the one on which we live.
(North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica,
Australia)
8. Know that the United States is the country in which we live. Locate the United
States of America on a map.
9. Locate the Great Lakes on a map.
10. Locate Virginia on a map.
11. Name the capital of the US (Washington D.C.) and tell what symbol shows where
it is on a map (a star with a circle around it).
12. Locate the Mississippi River on a map and name the river that flows
through Virginia- James River.
13. Know that a mountain range consists of many mountains. Know that the
Rocky Mountains are located in the western United States and the
Appalachian Mountains are located in the eastern United States.
14. Name and locate the Equator on a map.
Geography Tricks
Great Lakes:
To memorize the name of the Great Lakes: HOMES= Lake Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior
To geographically place the Great Lakes: “Sally Made Henry Eat Oreos” or SMHEO
Lake Superior is the Great Lake farthest west, to the right (east) of Lake Superior is Lake Michigan, then
Lake Huron, then Lake Erie and Lake Ontario is the Great Lake farthest to the east.
Continents Story:
North America married South America and they went east to Europe for their honeymoon. They had
quadruplets, who all had A names: Africa, Australia, Asia (who was the biggest, even though he had the
shortest name) and Antarctica, the coldest child.
Mississippi River Location:
MIMAL- Mimal is an elf with a top hat, big belly, and boots in the middle of the country. He is made from
the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The front of his outline is where the
Mississippi River flows from North to South in the United States.
Virginia’s Neighbors:
To remember the order of the states surrounding Virginia: Mustard With Ketchup Tastes Nasty
Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina
Compass Rose Directions:
Never Eat Slimy Worms
North, East, South, West