5/1/07
Mapping Essential Knowledge and Skills
This provides a list of Essential Knowledge and Skills that the student must master
in order to be successful taking the Virginia SOL Test that will be administered at
the end of the course.
The student should check off each line item as their knowledge level is achieved. If
at ANY TIME the student is having difficulty understanding the material, it should
be brought to my attention immediately so that the difficulty can be overcome.
Virginia Standard ES.1 b, c
The student will plan and conduct investigations in which
Key Concepts:
a. technologies, including computers, probe ware, and global positioning
systems (GPS), are used to collect, analyze, and report data and to
demonstrate concepts and simulate experimental conditions.
b. scales, diagrams, maps, charts, graphs, tables, and profiles are constructed
and interpreted.
Virginia Standard ES.3 a, b, c, d
The student will investigate and understand how to read and interpret maps,
globes, models, charts, and imagery.
Key Concepts:
a. maps (bathymetric, geologic, topographic, and weather) and star charts
b. imagery (aerial photography and satellite images)
c. direction and distance measurements on any map or globe
d. location by latitude and longitude and topographic profiles
Knowledge
There is no essential knowledge for this unit.
Essential Skills: ES.1
e. Compare topographic maps of different scales.
f. Construct a graph, table, chart, and/or diagram from data.
g. Interpret graphs and diagrams.
Skills: ES.3
a. Read and interpret maps, including legends and lines (e.g., contour and
isobar) used on maps.
b. Locate points and directions on maps and globes using latitude and
longitude.
c. Construct profiles from topographic contours.
d. Determine distance and elevation on a map.
e. Identify a hilltop, stream, and valley on a topographic map.
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Essential Understandings
Scale relates to actual distance.
Topographic maps, air photos, and satellite images relate to actual 3-D
landforms.
Grid systems are used to define locations and directions on maps, globes, and
charts.
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SOL Vocabulary
These terms were taken directly from the SOL Framework. It is
important that teachers and students have a complete understanding
of all of the words listed.
aerial photography – photographs taken from an aircraft in order to collect data
for charts and maps
bathymetric map – map that shows the depths and features of the ocean floor
chart – an outline map on which special data such as weather information can be
plotted; a sheet presenting data in graph or tabular form
contour interval – the difference in elevation between two consecutive contour
lines
contour lines – lines that pass through points on a map that have the same
elevation
distance – the length of a line segment joining two points
elevation – height above sea level
geologic map – map that shows features relating to the geology of an area such
as rock formations, soil, or time period of rocks
globe – a spherical or round model of Earth
hilltop – shown on a topographic map by enclosed contour lines with the highest
contour line in the middle surrounded by contour lines of lower elevation
imaging (computer) – map making using data collected from Landsats and
imaging radar
landforms – features that make up the topography of an area
latitude – the measure of distance north and south of the equator
legend – an explanatory accompanying a map, chart, or illustration
longitude – the measure of the distance east and west of the prime meridian
map – a representation, of all or part, of Earth on a flat surface
model – a small object, usually built to scale, that represents a larger object
profile – a silhouette of the elevations along a given or base line
satellite image – data collected by satellite sensors and sent to ground stations as
a stream of numbers where computers turn the data into images of Earth’s
surface
scale – a fixed ratio between the size of a real object and the size of a model of
the same object
star chart – a map of the night sky showing the stars and constellations visible,
during a particular season, in a given hemisphere
stream – a body of running water especially one moving over the earth’s surface
in a channel; contour lines bend uphill when they cross a stream
topographic map – map that shows the different shapes and sizes of a land
surface using contour lines
valley – an elongated lowland between mountain ranges, hills, or other uplands,
often having a river or stream running along the bottom
weather map – a map showing the conditions of the atmosphere for a certain
area
Additional Related Vocabulary
benchmark – a permanent marker in the ground indicating the exact elevation
above sea level
degree – 1/360 of a circle
east – the location of longitude to the right of the prime meridian and to the left
of the International Date Line; the direction is right when north is at the top
equator – imaginary line around the earth that divided the earth into two
hemispheres; parallel located halfway between the north and south poles
gradient – the vertical drop in a land area's elevation over a given horizontal
distance, expressed as an angle or in feet per mile; average slope calculated
as change in elevation divided by change in distance
hachure lines – short dashed lines drawn perpendicular to an enclosed contour
line which are used to indicate a depression, always point toward lower
elevations
International Date Line – line located along the 180th meridian; when the line is
crossed going west, one day is added; when it is crossed going east, one day is
subtracted
meridian – line that runs between the points on a globe or map that represent
the geographic north and south poles of the earth
minute – 1/60 of a degree
nautical mile – 1 minute of latitude (slightly larger than a mile)
north – the direction of latitude above the equator; usually located at the top of a
map unless indicated otherwise
north pole – 90 north latitude; points to Polaris, the North Star
parallels – lines going from east to west across a map or globe that crosses a
meridian at right angles
Prime Meridian – meridian that runs through Greenwich, England; 0˚ longitude
sea level – level of the surface of the sea midway between the average high and
low tides
second – 1/60 of a minute
slope – a measure of the amount of change in elevation divided by the change in
distance; is usually expressed as a percentage but can also be expressed as an
angle of elevation
south – the direction of latitude below the equator; usually located at the bottom
of a map unless indicated otherwise
south pole – 90 south latitude
west – the location of longitude to the left of the prime meridian and to the right
of the International Date Line; the direction is left when north is at the top of
the map or observer is facing north
x-axis – the horizontal axis on a line or bar graph
y-axis – the vertical axis on a line or bar graph
zenith – a point in the sky directly above the observer