Geography Handbookpp. 1-13

Landforms Map Elements Bodies of WaterCanyonBasinCape Cliff

ContinentDelta DivideGlacier

HighlandHill

IslandIsthmusLowlandMesa

MountainMountain peakMountain range

PeninsulaPlain

PlateauValley

Volcano

MeridianAbsolute location

ElevationEquator

Cultural featureLatitude

LongitudeMap

Parallel

Physical featurePrime Meridian

ReliefSea level

BayChannel

Gulf LakeRiverSea

SoundSourceStrait

TributaryDownstream

UpstreamHarbor

5 Themes of Geography

1. Location2. Place3. Human/environment interaction4. Movement 5. Regions

*6 Essential Elements* pp. 1-3

Element 1: The World in Spatial Terms• Where is a place located?• Location = a starting place• …awareness of the world around youElement 2: Places and Regions• Place is not just geographic location• Place includes physical characteristics

(mountains, lakes, etc)• regions: places grouped together by

common characteristics

Element 3: Physical Systems

• how hurricanes, volcanoes, etc. shape the earth’s surface

• plants’ and animals’ dependence on each other and their surroundings

Element 4: Human Systems

• the way people shape the earth

• Boundaries• Settlement

patterns• Movement of

people ideas and goods

Element 5: Environment and Society

Relationship between people and their natural surroundings

Element 6: Uses of Geography

Understanding relationships among people, places, and environments over time

Understand the past (written records, artifacts, fossils) and prepare for the future

USING MAPS AND GLOBES(p. 4)

Hemispheres:• Imaginary lines that criss-

cross the globe and are used to locate places on Earth

Equator: (east to west)—circles the globe like a belt

• Divides Earth into “half spheres” or hemispheres

• North of the equator = N. Hemisphere

• South of the Equator = S. Hemisphere

Hemispheres (cont.)Prime Meridian:• Runs from north to

south• Divides the earth into

“half spheres” or hemispheres in the other direction

• Everything E. of the Prime Meridian for 180 degrees = E. Hemisphere

• Everything W. of the Prime Meridian for 180 degrees = W. Hemisphere

Latitude and Longitude• Crisscross globes and maps• Help easily locate places• Form pattern called a gridLatitude: • Parallels (latitude lines) circle Earth parallel to the equator in• Measure distance N. or S. of the equator in degrees• Equator = 0 degrees latitude• North Pole = 90 degrees NLongitude/Meridians:• Circle the the earth from pole to pole• Measure dostamces East or West of the starting line (Prime

Meridian)• Prime Meridian = 0 degrees longitudeAbsolute location: • Possible because of grid formed by latitude and longitude lines• Place located at a specific crossing of latitude and longitude

Globes to Maps (p. 6)Globe-round scale model of

Earth• Gives a true picture of the

relative sizes of landmasses and bodies of water

• Accurately show distance and direction

Map-flat drawing of all or part of the earth’s surface

• Show small areas in great detail: political boundaries, population densities, and voting returns

Globe to map challenges:• Difficult to draw round surface to flat map• Cartographers (mapmakers) use math formulas to

transfer info to map• Distortion occurs• Solution=great circle: imaginary line that

follows the curve of the earth• Example: line drawn along the equator• great circle route- traveling along the great

circle• used by pilots because it is the shortest distance

between cities• Map: route doesn’t appear to be shortest distance• Globe: route appears as shortest route

Mapmaking Technology

GIS (geographic information systems): software that layers data from satellite images printed text, and statistics

Mapmaking Technology

GPS (global positioning system): helps locate places based on coordinates broadcast by satellites

Common Map Projectionsprojections:-ways of showing Earth on a flat

piece of paper

1. Goode’s Interrupted Equal Area: shows continents close to their true shapes and sizes

Helpful to compare land areas among continents

2. Robinson Projection:

Minor distortions E. and W. are close

to globe North Pole and

South Pole are most distorted

3. Winkel Tripel Projection: good overall view of continents’ shapes

Mercator Projection: shows direction and size pretty well, but areas far from the equator are very distorted

Parts of Maps

map key-explains lines symbols and colors

Example: =city; =capital city

scale bar:

Compass Rose: symbol that tells cardinal directions (N, S, E, W)

Map Types (p. 9-10)General Purpose: wide range of general

information (physical and political)Physical maps: show landforms and water

features Relief: flat or rugged land Elevation: height of an area above sea

levelPolitical Maps: show names and

boundaries of states/countries Cities, human made features

Map Types (p. 9-10) Cont.

Contour Maps: physical map that shows elevation

Contour lines-one for each level of elevation

Special Purpose Maps (thematic maps): specific topics in detail

Climate, population density, battle sites

Physical Map

Political Map

Contour Map

Special Purpose Maps

Charts and Graphs

Study Charts and Graphs Pages 11-13

Coming Soon Chart/Graph Activities!!