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1. The World in Spatial Terms
The World in Spatial Terms is one of the six essential elements of geography. Spatial relations refers to the connections that people, places, and environments have to one another because of their location on the Earths surface. While location does not determine how we live, it does influence our lives as it allows us to become aware of the world around us.

2. Main Idea:
The World in Spatial Terms is a fancy way of saying
WHERE IS IT LOCATED??
Located on a MAP.

3. Relative Location
There are two different types of location. The first of which is called RELATIVE.

4. Relative Location(learning to highlight the minimum)
Distance and location affect your life in many ways. If you live eight miles from school, you must wake up earlier each morning than someone who lives eight blocks away. If you live 2,500 miles from the nearest volcano, you will be much less concerned about its latest eruption than someone who lives in the valley below it.
From the specific spot where you stand on the earth, you are different directions and distances from many other spots on the earth. Your location can, in fact, be compared to the location ofany other spot on Earth. This is called relative location.
Distance and relative location are important because we depend on people in other places for things we need.

Relative location is when your location can be compared to the location of any other spot on Earth.
(In relation to Language Arts Prepositions or a compass rose)

Which direction is Australia from Asia?
Australia is southeast of Asia

7. Try It on your own!!!
Center
Canada
Mexico
SE
SW
W
E

8. Having Fun with Relative Location (in your passport)
Where is my desk??

Partners
Asia
Africa

10. Absolute Location
The second type of location is known as absolute location.
Absolute location is where something is located without referring to another object.

11. Absolute LocationWhy was it originally needed?
Ships of long ago had to keep track of their speed on long voyages because they had no other way to tell how far they had traveled. Ships often became lost. For example, a storm might blow them far away from where they wanted to go. What people needed was a way to tell exactly where they were on the earths surfacetheir absolute location. They also needed to be able to find their way to any other absolute location.

12. What they needed was a grid system that covered the entire earth. You know that a grid is made up of two sets of lines that cross each other. A grid system that covered the whole earth would let anyone find any location on Earth. We have such a grid today. We call it latitudeand longitude.

These lines can help you easily locate any place on Earth. These lines - called latitude and longitude, cross one another forming a pattern called a grid system.

14. Try the Grid!
Practice using the grid in Figure 1-4.
Which is closer to the top of the grid, cell A-1 or cell E-4?
Now draw a flower in cell C-2.
Then draw a circle in cell A-4.
Finally, write your name in cell D-1.
You should be able to draw a straight line through all four cells on the grid that have something in them.
NAME

Latitudelines also known as parallels, circle the Earth parallel to the Equator and measure the distance North and Southof the Equator (0 *).
N
S

The Equator is located at 0* and is the hottest place on earth.
Even though the Equator is the most important line of Latitude it is not the only important line. Two other important lines are known as the Tropic of Cancer (22 1/3 degrees N )and the Tropic of Capricorn (22 1/3 degrees S).
So why are these lines so important?
They get the most direct sunlight
making these areas the
hottest area places on
Earth.

The last two important Latitude lines are the Arctic (66 1/2 * N) and Antarctic Circle (66 1/2 * S).
So why are these lines so important? (exact opposite of the Tropics)
They get the smallest amount of
sunlight. Part of the year
there is no sunlight and the
other part of the year there is no
Darkness.

Longitudelines also known as Meridianscircle the Earth parallel to the Prime Meridian and measure Eastand West of the Prime Meridian.
E
W

30*N15*W
45*S 45*E
30*S 60*W
15*N 30*E
30*N60*W
45*N 45*E
60*S 60*W
60*N30*W
30*S15*E
60*S 75* E

20. Absolute Location:
World Latitude & Longitude Activity

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