Geography: The Power of Maps. Ivette Veiga Digitally-Mediated & Learning Instructor: Michelle Herrera

The story of the world begins with Geography Geography describes the earth land, water, plants, and animals life. It is the study of places and its complex relationship between people, places, and the environment. We use geography skills when we make personal decisions such as where to locate a city, a country, a landform, a new school, a grocery store, a desire store, among others.

Maps are powerful tools A map is a symbolic representation of all or part of the planet on a flat piece of paper. Maps can show small areas in great detail. Maps release important concepts and ideas of geography and history. Maps are a valuable tool for non verbal people. Maps help them find locations and more.

There three types of Maps: Physical Maps: Show the location, shape, and the natural or artificial physical features of an area such as rivers, mountains, plain, lakes, seas, and oceans. This high detailed physical map of USA helps you understands the variety of American Landscape.

Political Maps: Political Maps: show the boundaries that people have crated to divide earth’s surface into countries or other political territories. Political Maps often include other features created by people, such as capitals and major cities.

Thematic Maps: Thematic Maps: are created to show specific information about earth. For example, an economic map might show the major resources in a country such as industries and services. Other maps might show travel routes of explorers, locations of major historical events.

Map Tools _ Map title: the type of map, subject of the map, and specific information. _ Map scale: the relationship between measurement shown on a map and measurement of the earth’s surface. _ Map key or legend: specific information about the map represented by symbols. _ Compass rose: : indicates directions. The four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. _ Map grid: to help us find different places.

Quiz Time  Political Maps Physical Maps Thematic Maps __ rivers, mountains, plain, lakes, seas, and oceans. __ Countries, states, capitals, cities. __ Specific information such as travel routes, important events, places Political Maps Physical Maps Thematic Maps

Latitude and Longitude The Global Grid: every place has a global address, also called its absolute location. You can identify a place by naming the longitude and latitude lines that cross exactly at that place. For example: Washington, DC Latitude: 25.79588 Longitude: -80.287498 Lines of latitude: circle the earth either north or south of the Equator. Lines of longitude: stretch from the North Pole to the South Pole, either east or west of the prime Meridian .

Latitude and Longitude (cont.) How can I remember which lines are which? Latitude lines are imaginary lines on the earth's surface. They run east and west around the globe and tell you your distance north or south of the Equator. The Equator is measured at 0º latitude, while the Poles lie at latitudes 90º N (north) and 90º S (south). Longitude lines are imaginary lines on the earth's surface that run from pole to pole around the globe and tell you the distance east or west from the Prime Meridian (0º). Places east of the Prime Meridian are known as east longitude, and places west of the Prime Meridian are known as west longitude.

Latitude and Longitude (cont.) Every place on the earth has a unique position or “address” on this grid. The distance between the lines is measure in degrees ( º ). Miami International Airport 2100 NW 42nd Ave. Miami, Fl 33142 Latitude: 25.79 Longitude: -80.28

Earth, Parallels and Meridians, Latitude and Longitude.

Geography: The Power of Maps. References Continent [Map]. (n.d.). Google Images: Earth’s Seven Continents. Retrieved from Creative Commons Search website: http://media.web.britannica.com/eb-media/59/89959-004-732AD68F.gif Creative Commons. (n.d.). CC search: Google images. Retrieved from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Incheon_International_Airport.jpg Florida [Map]. (n.d.). Google Images: Thematic Maps. Retrieved from Creative Common website: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/National-atlas-florida.png / Igeo News. (2013, September). Earth, parallels and meridians, latitude and longitude [Creative Commons, YouTube video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChBhKPhB4VE National Geographic. (n.d.). Geography Skills Handbook, 1-15. Retrieved from http://classroom.nbisd.org/webs/jbrake/upload/geoskils.pdf North America [Map]. (n.d.). Google Images: Physical Map of North America. Retrieve from Creative Commons website: http://www.nationsonline.org/maps/north_america_relief.jpg