Distance, Direction, and
Latitude/Longitude
Wednesday’s Brainwork
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TSW determine distance, direction, and latitude/longitude
from maps and globes.
Questions: “History makes us who we are, but we can
make history—anyone can be a hero, if they choose to
be.”
What does this quote mean? Explain and analyze in 5
sentences.
Purpose
A compass shows the directions
on a map.
Compass
 North points to the top of the
map.
 East points to the right of the
map.
 South points to the bottom of
the map.
 West points to the left of the
map.
Picture
A scale shows you the
distance on a map. It shows
you how far one location is
Scale
from another on a map.
 Distance will usually be
in miles or kilometers.
 Use the scale to make a
ruler based on the ratio on
the map.
Lines of latitude and longitude state
the exact location of a place on a
Coordinates
map.
 Latitude is stated first, and
longitude comes second.
o Example: Latitude,
Longitude
 Lines of latitude run from east
to west, but are labeled as
North and South.
 Lines of longitude run from
north to south, but are
Coordinates
labeled as East and West.
o Example: ______°N,
______°E or _______°S,
_______°W
 The 0° latitude line is called
the equator. The 0° longitude
line is called the prime
meridian.
Fill in the blanks with compass, scale,
or latitude/longitude:
1.
2.
3.
If I want to find out which direction is North, I will use
the
______________________________________.
If I want to find out where exactly Memphis is located
on Earth, I will use ______________________.
If I want to see how far Memphis is from Nashville, I will
use the _________________________________.
Direction—use textbooks page A24
1.
If I want to get from North American to Europe, which
direction would I travel?
2.
If I want to get from Afric to South America, which direction
would I travel?
3.
If I want to get from South America to Australia by traveling
east, which ocean(s) will I cross?
4.
If I want to get from South America to Australia by traveling
west, which ocean(s) will I cross?
Distance—use textbooks page A34
1.
How far (in miles) is it from Memphis, Tennessee to Atlanta,
Georgia? What direction would you travel? Atlanta is
______________________ miles
___________________ of Memphis.
2.
How far (in miles is it from St. Paul, Minnesota to Chicago,
Illinois? What direction would you travel? Chicago is
_____________________ miles
___________________ of St. Paul.
3.
How far (in kilometers) is it from Phoenix, Arizona to Los
Angeles, California? What direction would you travel? Los
Angeles is _________________ kilometers
_______________ of Phoenix.
On your own…
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Pick 2 cities in different states. Measure the distance in
kilometers and miles as well as the direction.
Pick 2 more cities and do the same thing.
Map 1
Map 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
Which letter is the
equator? _______
Is letter A a line of
longitude or latitude?
__________________
Which letter is the
prime meridian?
_______
Which letter is 60°
West? ________
5. Is letter B a line of
longitude or latitude?
___________________
6. Which letter is 30° South?
_______
7. Which letter is 150° East?
________
Map 2
Map 2
8. Point ____ is located at
30° North, 90° West.
9. Point ____ is located at
30° South, 150° East.
10. Point ____ is located at
60° South, 30° West.
11. Point ____ is located at
60° North, 30° East.
12. Point ____ is located at
0° N/S, 30° East.
13. Point ____ is located at
60° North, 150° East.
14. Point ____ is located at
15° South, 45° West.
15. Point ____ is located at
75° North, 120° West.
Map 2
16. The smiley face is located at
____________________________.
17. The star is located at
____________________________.
Map 3
Map 3
18. Which point is closest to 60° North, 120° West? ______
19. Which point is closest to 30° North, 30° East? ______
20. What is the location of the point closest to Australia?
_____________________
21. What is the location of the point in the Pacific Ocean?
_____________________
22. What is the location of the point in Asia?
_______________________
23. What is the location of the point closest to South America?
_______________________
Independent Practice
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Turn to page A34.
Pick 5 different cities in the United States
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First, write the direction between one to the next.
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For example: NE from Memphis to Nashville; SE from Nashville
to Atlanta; NW from Atlanta to St. Paul.
Second, find the distance from one to the next.
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Each city must be in a different state.
For example: 1500 milles from Atlanta to St. Paul.
Third, find the latitude/longitude of each city.
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For example: St. Paul is 45 ° N, 93 ° E
Exit Quiz
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1. Name all 4 of the main directions on a compass, and explain
where on the map they point.
2. Name the tool on a map you would use to determine
distance, and explain how to use it.
3. What do lines of latitude/longitude help determine?
4. Lines of latitude run from ____________ to
________________ and are labeled as ________________
and _________________.
5. . Lines of longitude run from ____________ to
________________ and are labeled as ________________
and _________________.