SOCIAL STUDIESSOCIAL STUDIESGEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

KEY CONCEPTSKEY CONCEPTS

SOCIAL STUDIESSOCIAL STUDIESGEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY

KEY CONCEPTSKEY CONCEPTS

Created by S. George

GEOGRAPHY DEFINITIONS

Map Key (Legend)The part of a map that explain what the symbols on a

mapstands for.

Map SymbolA picture that is used to stand forsomething that is real on the Earth.

Distance ScaleThe scale on a mapthat tells the realdistance.

Compass RoseThe direction

markeron a map.

LocationWhere something

canbe found.

ContinentOne of the seven main areas of land on Earth.

equatorAn imaginary linethat circles the Earth halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole. The line divides the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

North PoleThe northern end ofthe Earth’s axis.

South PoleThe southern end ofthe Earth’s axis.

latitudeThe distance north or south of theequator; lines of latitude are drawn inan east-west direction around theglobe.

longitudeThe distancebetween east and west from the primemeridian; lines of longitude are drawnin a north-south direction around the globe.

pictographA graph that uses symbols or small pictures to stand

for amounts of things.

Circle (pie) graphA graph in the

shape Of a circle or pie.

Bar or line graphA graph that uses horizontal or vertical lines to

showinformation.

landformOne of the shapes that makes up the Earth’s surface,

suchas mountains, hills,plateaus, or plains.

lakeA large body ofwater surrounded

byby land.

OceanThe body of salt water that covers nearly ¾ of the Earth’s surface.

seaA large body of water in an ocean,either partly or completely landlocked.

gulfPart of an ocean

that reaches into the

landand is larger than a bay.

waterwayA body of water

thatis wide enough anddeep enough for ships to travel.

riverA large natural stream of water that empties intoanother large body of water.

climateThe kind of weathera place has over along period of time.

glacierA large mass of ice formed by the melting and refreezing of deep snow.

earthquakeThe shaking of theEarth’s surface caused by the movement and cracking of rockdeep inside the Earth.

Human migrationMovements of

groupsof people from oneplace to another.

cultureThe way of life of people. Culture includes traditions,customs, language, and education.

town/cityA large communitywhere people liveand work.

parish/countyA part of a state,usually larger than acity, which has its own government. Louisiana is the onlystate that uses parishes instead ofcounties.

nation/countryA political region with a single

centralgovernment.

ruralOf or like a countryregion