Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Unit 1A
Geographic Literacy
2015
1
Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
What is Geography?
The word comes from two Greek words:
Geo
Graphe
- meaning “
”
- meaning “ _____________________________________”
A basic definition is ‘the description or study of the earth’, but to be more precise…
Geography is
Geography is usually divided into two different areas of study:
1. Physical Geography (atlas – pg. 120) is the study of the
.
 For example:
o
o
o
o
o
o
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
2. Human Geography (atlas – pg. 134) is the study of
,
, and
ON the natural
environment.
 For example:
o
o
o
o
o
o
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Organize your terms brainstormed earlier in the table below, as example of physical or
human geography
Physical Geography
Human Geography
What is the relationship between Human & Physical Geography?
Use your atlas to compare a physical map to a political map. (Pgs 120 & 134)
How does the physical geography affect the human geography?
How does the human geography affect the physical geography?
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Representing the Earth
Since the earth is a sphere, the best way to accurately represent it is in the form of a
.
 However, globes are large and bulky, so maps were devised because they are
easier to
,
 A map is a
,and
than globes.
of all or part of the Earth drawn on a
surface.
 Maps simplify the real world to include only certain features.
Let’s read about different types of maps on Page 23 of your textbook.
Types of Maps
1.
- shows many types of information – both
natural and human features, like coastlines, rivers, boundaries, cities, roads, etc.
2.
- shows political divisions such as
country/provincial borders and cities/towns.
3.
- shows specific info such as climate, vegetation,
soil type, population, manufacturing, transportation, etc.
4.
- uses symbols to show a small area of the
Earth’s surface in detail – especially the contours of the land (elevation).
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
5.
- maps exist in digital form in computer
programs, in various handheld devices, and on the internet.
Essential Features of a Map (Page 21)
Maps have several key features, but there are four features that every map MUST
have…
1.
- This tells the viewer what part of the
world is being shown and what kind of information is being shown.
2.
- This explains the meaning of symbols and
colors
3.
- This describes the distance on map to
actual distance on earth. (Pg. 45)
 The most common method is
(ratio).
 Example:
4.
- A compass rose OR lines of latitude and
longitude.
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Locating Places On A Map: Compass Rose
When giving directions you need to know where you are and where you want to go.
On maps, references to compass points are shown on the
.
 The main points of a Compass Rose are:
,
,
,
 The half-way points between the four main points are:
,
,
,
Directions can be given more accurately if
, known as
, are used rather than compass points.
 Compass Bearings measure the angle of a direction in relation to
, moving in a clockwise direction.
 Most small scale maps (maps with little detail, like world map) use latitude and
longitude to show direction, but large scale maps (maps with a lot of detail, like
a city map) use a compass rose.
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Read about how a compass rose works on Page 27 and answer the following
questions:
1. How many compass points are shown in FIG.3-1?
2. What direction is halfway between each of the following directions?
a) NE & S
b) ESE & WSW
c) NE & SW
3. What direction is opposite each of the following directions?
a) SW
b) NNE
c) ESE
4. Give the compass bearing for the following directions (remember, your answer will
be in degrees):
a) N
b) SW
c) ESE
5. What is the direction of the following bearings?
a) 90˚
b) 157.5˚
c) 337.5˚
Let’s see how accurately you are able to rank countries according to size…
Country
Size Rank
Argentina
Algeria
Brazil
Canada
Greenland (Denmark)
India
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Map Projections (Page 18)
A globe is the only accurate way to represent the Earth because it is
just
like Earth. When we attempt to place the ROUND features of the earth onto a FLAT
map,
are always created!
 Geographers must decide when and where certain distortions are acceptable –
these different distortions are called map projections.
Popular Projection Methods (Page 20)
There are hundreds of ways to project the globe onto a flat surface, but here are three
popular methods:
Pros
Cons
Mercator
Equal Area
Winkel Tripel
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
1. Which method is used on the map of Canada in the front cover of your textbook?
2. Which method(s) are used on the world map(s) in the back cover of your
textbook?
3. Explain why the National Geographic Society adopted the Winkel Tripel
projection method as its standard world reference map. (pg 21)
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Locating Places on a Map: Grid Systems (Page 28)
The most common way to locate a place on a map is to use a grid system.
Three different grid systems used by geographers are:

uses letters and numerals to identify
squares in a grid pattern.

is used to identify any place on a
topographic map.

a system that divides the earth into a
series of grid squares.
Grid Systems were created in order to
the on earth’s surface – even in the middle of the ocean!
a particular location on
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Using a grid system is an easy and accurate way to locate a feature on a map, however
different kinds of maps require different grids.
1. Alphanumeric Grids (page 30)
What is it?
Diagram
What kind of maps is it used on?
1. What quadrant is Lake Manitoba found in?
2. What highway does the 17/18 line run parallel to?
3. What town is found in quadrant M19?
2. Latitude and Longitude (page 35)
What is it?
Diagram
What kind of maps is it used on?
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
3. Military Grid (or Map Grid) (page 30)
What is it?
Diagram
What kind of maps is it used on?
1. What feature is found at 3223?
2. Which highway runs parallel to Easting 33?
3. What are the coordinates for the intersection of Highway 1 and 1A?
4. What are the pros and cons of this grid system?
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Definition
Imaginary lines that…
Latitude
Example(s)
Diagram
Definition
Imaginary lines that…
Longitude
Example(s)
Diagram
Coordinates
Definition
Example(s)
Grid System
Definition
Example(s)
Equator
Definition
Example(s)
Prime Meridian Definition
Example(s)
International
Date Line
Example(s)
Definition
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Longitude and Time Zone (Page 37)
The theory behind Time Zones is simple:
 The Earth rotates around its axis once every
, therefore
there are 24
around the Earth, each with
difference between them.
 Since the Earth rotates through
rotate through
degrees in
degrees of longitude in
hours, it must
hour (360/24=15)
 Therefore, each of the 24 time zones is 15 degrees wide. Every place within a
time zone has the same time, referred to as
 The
.
is the center of a time zone that
extends degrees on either side.
 The time in this zone is called
, and
the standard times in other zones are compared to it.
 Since the Earth rotates
 Time zones that are
to
.
of the Prime Meridian have local times that are
of UT.
 Time zones that are
of the Prime Meridian have local times that are
UT.
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
 As you move WEST of the Prime Meridian, you
one hour
for every 15’ of longitude.
 As you move EAST of the PM, you
one hour.
 However, time zones often have
.
 This is to avoid dividing
into
two time zones.
 Imagine how confusing it would be if
zone and
was in one time
was in another!!
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Time Zones of Canada
Canada is home to six (well, technically five and a half!) different time zones.
Time Zone
Provinces
Reminder!!!
As you move WEST (right to left) across the country, you SUBTRACT one hour/time zone.
As you move EAST (left to right) across the country, you ADD one hour/time zone.
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Time Zone Questions (Pages 37-39)
1. What is ‘universal time’? Where is it?
2. Why are some time-zone boundaries NOT perfectly aligned to their lines of
longitude? Give one drastic example.
3. What is daylight-savings time? Why was it first implemented?
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
What is Topography?
Topography is…
Two ways to show ELEVATION:
1. Color Transitions
2. Contour Lines
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Contour lines indicate the height of land above the seas level by
the same
 The specific
parts of
on a map.
between
is called
the contour interval.
 Therefore, the closer the contour lines are to each other, the
the
slope is.
For example…
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
Remote Sensing (Page 62)
 Remote sensing refers to viewing the earth from above.
 In the past, it was aerial photographs, however today it generally refers to
.
 The information collected and provided by satellite images have become a part
of our everyday lives!
Uses of Satellite Imaging (Page 67 – 69)
1. Weather Forecasting
 Accurately forecasting the temperature, precipitation, winds, and storms is a
difficult job, but made much easier now that satellites give us the ability to see
what’s coming.
Figure 7-5 shows an approaching storm. Answer the following questions:
 What kind of storm does this image show?
 Where is this storm located?
 Are these colors accurate or were they ‘added’ (see the bottom of Pg 62)?
 What is this called? Why is it used?
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
2. Interpreting Landscape Features
 Satellite images allow us to examine the features of earth’s surface – even
remote locations – from afar.
 According to Fig. 7-4 on Page 65, how were satellite images used in
Manitoba in 1997?
3. Map Making
In the past, maps were created by taking
of
the earth, but now satellite images allow us to use ‘
‘ to
more accurately (and far more easily!) draw maps of the earth.
4. Global Positioning System (GPS)
GPS uses
or more satellite locations to pinpoints our exact location on earth.
 This can be useful for:
o
o
o
o
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
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Mr. C. Pfahl
Unit 1A: Geographic Literacy
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