Geography Skills

5 Themes of Geography Location - where a place is

Location Relative - the location of a place in relationship to another place. (Philadelphia is located on the Delaware River south of Trenton, New Jersey)

Location Exact Location - locating a place using Longitude and Latitude. (Lab School - Latitude , Longitude )

Place Comparing the human-made and natural features of one place with another Physical characteristics include a description such things as the mountains, rivers, beaches, topography, and animal and plant life of a place.

Human/Environment Interaction How humans adapt to and modify the environment. Humans shape the landscape through their interaction with the land; this has both positive and negative effects on the environment.

Movement How humans,ideas, fads, goods, resources, and communication all travel distances. Movement and migration across the planet.

Region Region divides the world into manageable units for geographic study. Regions have some sort of characteristic that unifies the area

Hemispheres The word comes from the Greek - meaning “Half Sphere” There are 4 hemispheres Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Eastern Hemisphere Western Hemisphere

Northern/Southern Hemisphere The EQUATOR divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

Eastern/Western Hemispheres The PRIME MERIDIAN separates the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres

Hemispheres Some countries are in BOTH the Northern and Southern Hemisphere...or...the Eastern and Western Hemisphere!

Longitude An imaginary line, also called a MERIDIAN, that runs North and South. It is measures how far EAST or WEST of the Prime Meridian something is. Longitude lines are farther apart at the equator and closer at the poles

Latitude An imaginary line, also known as a PARALLEL, that circles the Earth from East to West. Lines of latitude are measured as being North or South of the Equator Latitude lines are PARALLEL to each other, unlike lines of Longitude

Measuring Longitude/Latitude Lines of Latitude and Longitude are measured in Degrees, Minutes and Seconds

Maps There are lots of different types of maps Political map Physical map Time Zone Map Elevation Map Climate Map

Maps Most maps have several things in common a title a key symbols compass rose scale and sometimes a locator or inset map

Title Tells you the name and subject of the map

Key A map key tells you what the symbols or colors on a map mean

Symbols A small drawing or color that represents something on the map

Compass Rose A pointer on a map that shows directions. Cardinal Directions - N, S, E, W Intermediate Directions -NE, NW, SE, SW

Scale Helps you measure distances on a map

Locator A small map that shows where the subject of the main map can be found.

Inset Map A small map that shows areas outside the map or in greater detail than the larger map

Political Map Political maps are designed to show governmental boundaries of countries, states, and counties, the location of major cities, and they usually include significant bodies of water.

Physical Map Shows the major landforms and bodies of water.

Time Zone Map The Earth is divided into 24 time zones. (One for each hour.) The United States has 6 time zones Philadelphia is in the Eastern Time Zone

Elevation Map Elevation is the height above sea level. Elevation maps show how heigh different parts of the area are above sea level

Climate Map Climate - the weather over a long period of time Weather - precipitation and temperature over a short period of time

Road Map Shows automobile routes (old fashioned GPS)