Basic Geography

• Latitude and Longitude

• Hemispheres

• Time Zones

• Mapping Skills

• Rivers

Mapping Skills Vocab• Read pages 4-5

• Define the following words in your vocabulary section

(stay under Mapping vocab) and include a visual

demonstration of the word.

– Latitude

– Longitude

– Hemisphere

– Equator (not in yellow but on page 4)

Read pages 20-21 and define the following terms:

– Prime Meridian- not in yellow but first sentence on page 21

– Time zone

Mapping Skills

Notes

Latitude

Longitude

Hemisphere

Equator

Prime Meridian

Time Zones

Latitude and Longitude

• Latitude: lines that run parallel

to the Equator measuring

distance north or south of the

Equator

• Longitude: lines that run from

the north pole to the south pole

measuring distance from the

Prime Meridian

equator

• Line of latitude 0 degrees

• Equal distance from both poles

Prime meridian

• 0 degrees longitude,

runs through

greenwich, England

• Line from which all

other lines of longitude

are measured from

• Where you start

counting hours

hemisphere

• Half of the earth

• Northern or southern as divided by the

equator

• Eastern or western as divided by the prime

meridian

Student’s drawing:latitude, longitude, equator, prime meridian (label the

coordinates where it falls), hemisphere

International date line

• 180 degrees

longitude

• Opposite of the

prime meridian

• Where each

new day starts

• To the left you

lose a day, to

the right you

gain a day

http://www.youtube.com

/watch?v=LBuMVsUvaA

8

Time Zone• Area of the earth that follow the same

definition of time

• Region that shares the same time of

day, usually one hour earlier than the

next zone to the west

• Changes 1 hour every 15 degrees

longitude

– 2:00a.m. means it is the middle of the

night everywhere

Kinds of Maps

• Political- shows boundaries of states, countries, continents, bodies of water, etc. usually shown as separate colors-

– Find a political map in your atlas

• Physical maps- also called elevation maps, shows physical features, land cover and elevation. Does not divide by country boundaries

– Find a physical features map in your atlas

Kinds of Maps

• Thematic maps are data maps of a

specific subject or for a specific purpose.

– Find a thematic map in your atlas

Read pages 10-13 in text book on

understanding maps

Define the following words from the textbook

• Compass rose

• Cardinal directions- use glossary

• Intermediate directions- NW, NE, SW, SE

• Scale bar

• Key

Understanding Maps

• Key/Legend: explain the symbols and

shading on the map

• Compass Rose: diagram that shows

direction

• Scale: shows how much space on the map

represents a given distance on land

Understanding Maps

• Cities Index: shows population of

cities/towns and location on map

• Mileage Chart: shows distances between

large cities/towns

Draw a map to your house from

southeast

• Your assignment is to draw a map from

your house to south east

• If you only live a block or two away, then

choose another location (like your

elementary, city high, etc)

• If you live too far away (like more than 5

miles) you may also choose a closer

starting location

What are some helpful things to

include on a map

street names- 5 pts

Landmarks- (ones not included in key) 5pts

Compass rose (make sure you are drawing

direction of travel accurately)- 5pts

Drawn to scale (or at least close)- 5 pts

Key or legend (show direction of travel, stop

signs, traffic lights, etc) 10 pts

Label the top of the page in your vocab section:River vocabulary

• Source

• Mouth

• Upstream

• Downstream

• Wetlands

• Tributary

• Silt: small particles of rich

soil, usually left after a

flood and found near the

delta

• Delta

• Irrigation

• Floodplain: flat or nearly

flat area of land next to a

river or stream that

experiences flooding

during high water levels

Label the top of the page in your vocab section:River vocabulary

• Floodplain: flat or nearly flat area of land next to a river or

stream that experiences flooding during high water levels

• Dam: barrier preventing the flow of water

• Watershed Boundary: the area of land where all of the water that

is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place

• Silt: small particles of rich soil, usually left after a flood and found

near the delta

• Wetlands: land that has a wet and spongy soil, as a marsh,

swamp or bog

Rivers• Using your text and atlas you will be

looking up, defining and labeling different

parts of a river. Put this handout in the

notes/assignment section of your binder.

• Using pages 884-885 in the green book

and your atlas pages 100-101 look up the

following words and define in your

vocabulary section. Underline each word

and skip a line in between words.

•Nile Delta

•Delta

•Silt after a flood

•Mouth of a river

•Nile tributaries