Social Studies 8
Using an Atlas
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Absolute location
atlas
bar graph
cardinal directions
cartographer
circle graphs
climographs
compass rose
density
distortion
Equator
Mercator Projection
intermediate directions
latitude
legend (key)
line graph
longitude
orientation Physical map
Polar projection
political map
relief
population maps
scale
primary resource
map
Prime Meridian
globe
relative location
Robinson Projection
• Shows the ratio between a
unit of length on a map
and a unit of distance on
the earth
• Imaginary lines that
measure distance north
and south of the equator
• Imaginary lines that
measure distance east and
west of the Prime
Meridian
• Describes a place in
comparison to other
places around it
• Direction -- usually
shown on a map using a
compass rose or
directional indicator
• Geographic Information
Systems (GIS), field work,
satellite images, photographs,
maps, globes, data bases,
primary sources
• Help people carry out daily
activities (ex. Route to school
or the store)
• give directions to others
• understand world events
• Compare sketched maps to
more formal maps such as
those in an atlas or book
• Describe the location of
places in terms of reference
points (the equator or Prime
Meridian
• Can describe the location of
places in terms of
geographic features and
land forms (ex. West of the
Mississippi River, or north
of the Gulf of Mexico)
• Describing the location of
places in terms of the human
characteristics of a place ( ex:
languages, types of housing
dress, recreation, customs or
traditions
• Symbols
• Colors
• Lines
• Boundaries
• Contours
• Thematic maps show a
theme or a particular idea.
There are many different
types.
• Population density
• population distribution
• economic activity
• resources
• languages
• ethnicity
• Climate
• precipitation
• vegetation
• physical
• political
• Changes in Knowledge
– Map of Columbus’s time
– Satellite images
• changes in Place Names
– Formosa, Taiwan, Republic of
China
– Palestine, Israel, Occupied
Territories
• changes in Boundaries
– Africa in the 1910s and in the
1990s
– Europe before WWII and
after WWII and since 1990
• Changes in perspectives of
place names--Arabian Gulf v.
Persian Gulf
– Sea of Japan v. East Sea
– Middle East v. North Africa and
Southwest Asia
• Changes in Disputed areas--
Korea
– Western Sahara
– Former Yugoslavia
– Kashmir
• Three types of map projections
– Mercator
– Polar
– Robinson
• All three types have
distortion
• You can distort area, shape,
distance and direction
• A Mercator projection is best
used for ship navigation
because of the nice straight
lines
• Nice Straight lines
• A Polar projection is best used
in airplane navigation. It is
easy to plot the Great Circle
Routes used to fly long
distances
• A Robinson projection is best
used for data representation.
Most of the maps in textbooks
are Robinson projections
• Latitude lines are straight. Longitude lines are curved.
• Used to
show parts of
a whole or
percentages
• Used to show
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East
West
North
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr
items in
relation to
others
• Used to
show loss or
gain or
information
over several
time frames
• Shows the
population of a
country or region.
Allows you to
break into male
and female and by
age groups
90
80
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• J F M
A M J J A S
• Shows precipitation and
temperature averages over a one
year period
• Recycling programs
• conversion of land
• airport expansion
• bicycle paths
• water sources
• air quality
• mass transit
Social Studies Online
Introduction
– Recognize that a map
contains elements such as
title, scale, symbols,
legends, grids, and
cardinal and intermediate
directions.
• Maps have a lot of information,
but you need to know how to
read them. There are several
parts to a map which explain
details and help you really see
where you are and where you're
going.
• Maps often have
symbols to represent
such features as
highways, small
roads, campgrounds,
and rest areas. These
symbols are listed in
the legend.
• The compass
shows the
directions on a
map: north,
south, east, and
west.
• The index tells you
where to find a
specific place on a
map. Depending on
the size and type of
map you're using, the
index can help you
locate a city, town, or
street.
• The scale helps you
measure the distance
betweeen two places.
When you know the
distance you can
calculate how long
the trip will take.
• What’s on a map?
• Map Adventures (handout)
• A generalized view of an area, usually some portion
of Earth’s surface, as seen from above at a greatly
reduced size
• Any geographical image of the environment
• A two-dimensional representation of the spatial
distribution of selected phenomena
• To represent a larger area than we can see
• To show a phenomenon or process we can’t see
with our eyes
• To present information concisely
• To show spatial relationships
Represent a larger area
Show
what
we
can’t
see
Present info concisely
Show spatial
relationships
• Maps are selective views of reality
• Size of the map relative to reality (scale)
• What’s on the map (symbolization)
• Shape of the map (projection)
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Ratio of the distance on the map to the distance on
the ground
Scale is a fraction
Larger area covered means larger denominator
Larger denominator means smaller fraction
So a large-scale map covers a small area
Large-scale
Small-scale
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Ratio of the distance on the map to the distance on
the ground
1. Graphic:
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Stays the same when photocopied
Might not be right for the whole map
Verbal:
1 inch equals 10 miles
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Easy to understand
Can change if photocopied
1.
Representative fraction or ratio:
1:24,000
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Units don’t matter
Can change if photocopied
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Symbols are a code instead of text
Three kinds: point, line, area
Consider shape, size, orientation, pattern, color,
value
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Every symbol counts as one occurrence
Qualitative points
– Indicate location
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– Can also describe that location
Quantitative points
– Show a distribution
– Indicate a value (graduated symbols)
Indicate location
Describe location
Show a
distribution
Indicate a value
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One-dimensional
Mostly taken for granted (borders, roads)
Isolines connect same values
Flow-line maps indicate value by width of line
Isolines
(Contour
lines)
Flow-line maps
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Each territory or region has one value
Differences in kind
Differences in value
– Choropleth maps
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– Usually, darker indicates more
Cartograms distort area to show value
Differences in kind
Differences in kind
Differences in value
(Choropleth)
Cartogram
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Also called quadrangles
Nearly 54,000 for the U.S.
Done by the US Geological Survey (USGS) since
1897
Map out the entire country in a standard fashion
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Till the 1940s, you climbed to the highest point
and plotted what you could see from there
Aerial photography after WWII
Two overlapping photos are put in a stereoscope
10 photos for each 7.5 minute map
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Show 2D features, point, line and area; also show
3D via contour lines
Common symbols are in the appendix of the text
Note the contour interval at the bottom of the
map
• Political maps show how people have divided
places on the Earth into countries, states, cities
and other units for the purpose of governing
them.
• Physical maps show what the surface of the Earth
looks like.
• The world has four major oceans.
• Atlantic
• Pacific
Arctic
ocean
• Arctic
• Indian
Pacific
ocean
Atlantic
ocean
Indian
ocean
• Students generally associate Arctic and Antarctic
with cold weather, so students could make the
observation that the climate at the poles is cold.
This map shows the general climate regions of the
world.
• Religious beliefs help define a people’s culture, so
to understand a people, it is important to consider
what religions influence that group.
• What is the purpose of a Political map?
To show borders of countries, states,
cities
• What is the purpose of a Physical map?
• Physical maps show what the surface of the world
looks like
• What are the four major oceans of the world?
• Atlantic
• Pacific
• Arctic
• Indian
• Why is it important to understand a peoples
religion?
• because religion helps shape their culture
►The earth is divided
into lots of lines
called latitude and longitude.
►Longitude lines run north and south.
►Latitude lines run east and west.
►The lines measure distances in degrees.
Latitude
Longitude
►The equator
is 0 degree latitude.
►It is an imaginary belt that runs halfway
point between the North Pole and the
South Pole.
Equator
P
M
E
R
R
I I
D longitude. This
► The prime meridian is 0 degrees
M
I
imaginary line runs through the United Kingdom,
E A
France, Spain, western Africa, and
Antarctica.
N
►By using the equator and prime
meridian, we can divide the
world into four hemispheres,
north, south, east, and west.
►A compass is a tool that helps
the user know what direction one
is headed.
►On a map, a compass or a
compass rose helps the user
locate these directions.
►The needle on a compass is magnetized
to point to the earth's north magnetic
pole. Thus with a compass, a person can
roughly tell which direction they are
headed.
►There are four major or cardinal
directions on a compass- north, south,
east & west. In between are the
directions northeast, northwest,
southeast, southwest.
► Direction Quiz
Source: http://aerocompass.larc.nasa.gov
► The cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west.
► The intermediate directions are northeast, southeast,
southwest and northwest.
► They help describe the location of places in relation to
other places.
►Maps are made to scale;
that is, there is a
direct connection between a unit of
measurement on the map and the actual
distance.
►For example, each inch on the map
represents one mile on Earth. So, a map
of a town would show a mile-long strip
of fast food joints and auto dealers in
one inch.
Scale
►The Earth is divided
into 24 time zones,
corresponding to 24 hours in a day.
►As the earth rotates, the sun shines in
different areas, moving from east to west
during the course of a day.
►Places that have the same longitude will
be in the same time zone.
► The legend
is the key to unlocking the secrets of a map.
Objects or colors in the legend represent something on
the map.
Religions
Legend
Legend
Look up Latitude and Longitude for US Cities
► Maps and Map Skills Degrees, Latitude, & Longitude
Worksheet
► Latitude and Longitude Map (lesson plan)
► Scale
► Time Zones
► Anchors Aweigh (a map adventure)
► Map Quiz
► Make Your Own Map
► Topography Maps
► U. S. Map Collection
► GeoSpy Game
► Globe Projector
► GeoGame
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