Geography is the study of
Earth’s physical features
An important tool used to
study geography is a
Map!
Map reading is an
important skill, with a
vocabulary all its own!
Cardinal Directions
are North, East,
South and
West.
Cardinal Directions
are shown on a
map as a compass
rose.
Latitude
is shown on a
map as a
horizontal
line.
Lines of Latitude are parallel lines.
They go around, but never touch
or intersect each other.
The Equator is a line of
latitude which is the
midway point between
the northern and
southern hemispheres
Longitude is a
vertical line seen
on a globe or
map. The long
lines goes
top to bottom.
Prime Meridian is zero
degrees longitude
Something New For You!
Each half of the Earth is called a Hemisphere
We live in the
Western Hemisphere
We live
here ->
The Western Hemisphere begins at
0 degrees longitude, (the PRIME MERIDIAN).
It includes North and South America.
North and
South America
make up half
the world, a
hemisphere.
It is known as
the Western
Hemisphere.
North America is a
continent made of
7 small countries of
Central America
and 3 large
countries, which
are Canada, Mexico
and the United
States.
Western
Hemisphere
America is a country located on
the continent of North America
Canada is another
country found on
the continent of
North America. It is
north of the United
States.
Mexico is another
country located on the
continent of North
America. It is south of
the United States.
REVIEW: The continent of North America
Is made of 3 large countries
And 7 smaller countries of Central America
Canada
America
Mexico
Mexico is a
country of
North American
continent
And it is the
northern most
country in the
region of
Latin America.
Latin America
Is also in the
Western
Hemisphere
Latin America
Is made up of
3 regions:
1. Middle America
2. Caribbean Islands
3. South America
the
Caribbean
Islands
Middle
America
South
America
The most
northern region
of Latin America
is Middle
America.
Latin America
Latin America
Latin America
Middle America is made
up of Mexico and seven
nations south of it.
Middle America
is made up of Mexico
and seven nations
south of it.
Let’s use this slide and use our geography skills to map out Middle America by
answering questions 32 A – F.
Middle America forms a crooked, narrow isthmus
in southern most part of Central America.
An isthmus is a
thin piece of land
surrounded by
water on two
sides.
It usually
connects two
larger land
masses.
The Isthmus of
Panama
connects North
America to South
America.
North America 
The Isthmus of Panama connects

North America to South America.

South
America
A continent
which is in
Latin America
and the
Western
Hemisphere
A continent is one of seven major land masses on the earth.
There are seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia,
Europe, North America, and South America.