Mental Maps

Absolute Location Exact coordinates Longitude Latitude Prime Meridian International Date Line Latitude Equator

Relative Location Spatial relationships among places Where something is in relation to something else Example: My house is near the big hill. That restaurant is down the street from the movie theatre.

Mental Maps A map in your mind How you remember where a place is. Where a place is in relation to somewhere else Indicates how well a person knows an area Refined through experience and learning

How do you use a mental map? Going to school Moving around school Locating other cities, states, or countries

Improving a Mental Map Compare sketches to maps Describe location in terms of reference points Describe location in terms of geographic features and land forms Describing location in terms of human characteristcs