NAME:___________________________________
HOUR:____________
GEOGRAPHY SKILLS HANDBOOK
Geography skills provide the tools and methods for us to understand the relationships
between people, places, and environments. We use geographic skills when we make daily
personal decisions-where to buy a home; where to get a job; how to get to the shopping mall;
where to go on vacation. Community decisions, such as where to locate a new school or how to
solve problems of air and water pollution, also require the skillful use of geographic information.
This Geography Skills Handbook introduces you to the basic geographic tools-globes,
maps, graphs-and explains how to use them. These resources will help you get the most out of
your geography course-and provide you with skills you will use for the rest of your life.
Thinking Like a Geographer
Skills for Learning Geography: Geography educators have identified a set of 5 skills
that are key to geographic understanding.
SKILL
EXAMPLES
TOOLS & TECHNIQUE
1
Latitude, Longitude, and Location: Geography is often said to begin with the question:
_________________? Although this question can be answered in many ways the basic tool for
finding the answer is _____________________. Lines on globes and maps provide information
that can help you locate places. These lines cross one another, forming a pattern called a
____________ _____________________. This system helps you find exact places on the
Earth’s surface.
Latitude
 Parallels:

North latitude:

South latitude:
Longitude
 Meridians:

Prime Meridian:

East longitude:

West longitude:
The Global Grid
 Absolute location:

Minutes:
2
From Globes to Maps
A ________________________ is a scale model of the earth. Because the earth is
round, a globe presents the most accurate depiction of geographic information such as area,
distance, and direction. However, globes show little close-up detail.
A ___________________ is a symbolic representation of all or part of the planet on a flat
piece of paper. Unlike globes, maps can show small areas in great detail. Another advantage
of printed maps is that they can be folded, stored, and easily carried from place to place.
From 3-D to 2-D:
 Cartographers:

Issues:
How Map Projections Work:
 Map Projections:
Planar Projection
Cylindrical Projection
Conic Projection
3
Common Map Projections:
The _________________ ___________________of the earth cannot be shown
accurately on a flat map. Every map projection stretches or breaks the curved surface of the
planet in some way as it is flattened. Distance, direction, shape, or area may be distorted.
____________________________ have developed many map projections, each with
some advantages and some degree of inaccuracy. Four of the most popular map projections,
named for the cartographers who developed them, are shown below.
Winkel
Tripel
Projection
Robinson
Projection
Goode’s
Interrupted
Equal-Area
Projection
Mercator
Projection
4
Reading a Map
In addition to ___________________ and the lines of ____________________ and
______________________, maps feature other important tools to help you interpret the
information they contain. Learning to use these map tools will help you read the symbolic
language of maps.
Key/Legend: Every map has
different symbols, to assure that
the symbols used are clear every
map contains a key; a list that
explains what the symbols stand
for.
Boundary Lines:
Compass Rose: Most maps
feature and compass rose, a
marker that indicates directions.
The four Cardinal directions—
north, south, east, and west—are
usually indicated with arrows of
points of a star. The intermediate
directions—northeast, northwest,
southeast, southwest—may also be
shown, usually with smaller arrows
or star points.
Sometimes a compass rose may
point in only one direction because
the other directions can be
determined in relation to the given
direction. The compass rose on
this map indicates all Cardinal
directions.
Cities: Represented by dots.
Relative sizes of cities can be used
by using dots of different size.
Scale Bar: Shows the
relationship between map
measurements and actual
distances.
Capitals:
Using Scale:
All maps are drawn to a certain scale. ___________________ is a consistent,
proportional relationship between the measurement shown on the map and the measurement of
the earth’s surface. The scale of a map varies with the size of the area shown.
Use the scale bar to find ____________ ______________ on a map. The __________
___________ gives the relationship between map measurements and actual distances. Most
scale bars are graphic representations, allowing you to use a ruler to calculate actual distances.
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Small-Scale Maps
A small-scale map can show a large area but
little detail. Note that the scale bar for this map
indicates that about ½ an inch is equal to 200
miles and about 300 kilometers.
MEXICO
Large-Scale Maps
A large-scale map can show a small area on
the earth’s surface with a great amount of
detail. Note that map measurements
correspond to much smaller distances than on
a small-scale map.
MEXICO CITY
Absolute and Relative Location:
As you learned before, a place’s ________________ __________________ is found at
the precise point where one line of latitude crosses a line of longitude. Another way that people
indicate location is by relative location. You may be told, for example, to look for a street that is
“two blocks north: of another street. _________________ ________________ is the location
of one place in relation to another place.
To find relative location, find a _______________ _____________—a location you
already know—on a map. Then look in the appropriate direction for the new location. For
example, locate Houston (your reference point) on this map. The relative location of Dallas can
be described as northwest of Houston and Galveston can be described as southeast of
Houston.
6
Types of Maps
Maps are prepared for many uses. The use for which a map is intended determines the
kinds of information it contains. Learning to recognize a map’s purpose will help you make the
best use of its content.
General Purpose Maps:
Used for ______________________, _______________-__, and __________________.
There are 2 main types:
Physical Map
Shows location and the topography, or
shape, or the earth’s physical features.
Physical maps use colors or patterns to
indicate relief—the difference in
elevation, or height, of landforms. Some
physical maps have contour lines that
connect all points of land of equal
elevation. Physical maps may show
mountains as barriers to transportation.
Rivers and streams may be shown as
routes into the interior of a country.
These physical features often help to
explain the historical development of a
country.
Political Map
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Special-Purpose Maps:
Maps that emphasize a _______ __________ or a particular kind of ________________
about an area are called special-purpose maps. There are many kinds of special-purpose
maps, each designed to serve a different need: relief maps, climate maps, population density
maps, vegetation maps, elevation profiles, economic activity maps, and cartograms.
8
Graphs, Charts, & Diagrams
In addition to globes and maps, geographers use other visual representations to display
and interpret dat. Graphs, charts, and diagrams provide valuable information in forms that are
well organized and easy to read.
9
Graphs:
A _______________ is a visual representation of information. There are many kinds of
graphs, each suitable for certain purposes. Most graphs show two sets of ______________,
one displayed along the vertical axis and the other displayed along the horizontal axis. Labels
on these axes identify the data being displayed.
Line Graph:
Shows change in two variables or changing sets
of circumstances over periods of time. To
analyze data on a line graph, study the changes
and trends as shown by the line. Then draw
conclusions based on the information. This line
graph shows Unit Production of 2004. The
vertical axis lists units and the horizontal axis
indicates the month.
Bar Graph:
Shows comparisons. To analyze a bar graph,
note the differences in quantities. Then make
generalizations or draw conclusions based on the
data. This bar graph shows Birthdays of
Students by Month. The vertical axis shows the
number of students and the horizontal axis
indicates the month.
Circle Graph:
Also called a pie chart, shows the relationship of
parts to a whole. Percentages are indicated by
relative size and sometimes by color. To analyze
a circle graph, study the relationships of areas to
one another and to the whole. This circle graph
shows the attendance rates of the Central Middle
School Fall Festival by grade and gender.
10
Charts and Tables:
Data are arranged in columns and rows in a chart or table. Charts and tables display
facts in an organized manner and make ______________________ easy. To find key
information in a chart or table look for the intersections of columns and rows.
The table below displays information about the major rivers of the world: volume of water
runoff, watershed population, and watershed land area.
Diagrams:
A diagram is a drawing that shows what something is or how something is done. Many
diagrams feature several drawings or sections that show the ___________________________
_________________________________.
The diagram below shows the phases of the moon.
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