1. Geography is a field of science dedicated to the study of the earth
Landscapes and features
Inhabitants—something that lives there
Phenomena—something that happens
What is geography?

2. Political maps What can a map tell us?
Locations & boundaries of places
What can a map tell us?

3. Physical maps
Land formations and water
What can a map tell us?

4. Elevation maps What can a map tell us?
Distance above or below sea level
What can a map tell us?

5. Population maps What can a map tell us?
How many people live in a certain area
Population density—people in a given area
What can a map tell us?

6. Climate maps
Weather patterns and temperatures
What can a map tell us?

7. Natural resource maps What can a map tell us?
Where and what type of resources are available
What can a map tell us?

8. Map tools How do we read maps? Compasses show direction
Cardinal directions: North, East, South, and West
How do we read maps?

9. Map tools (cont.) How do we read maps?
Map keys (aka legends) use symbols to identify locations of real things
How do we read maps?

10. Map tools (cont.) How do we read maps?
Distance scales help find actual distance between locations on a small map
How do we read maps?

11. Map tools (cont.) How do we read maps?
Map grids use numbers and letters to divide maps into small sections
How do we read maps?

12. Map tools (cont.) How do we read maps? Latitudes or parallels
Horizontal lines on a world map/globe
Run east/west across the world
Middle point known as the equator
How do we read maps?

13. Map tools (cont.) How do we read maps? Longitude or meridians
Vertical lines on a world map or glove
Run north/south around the world
Middle point called “prime meridian”
How do we read maps?

14. Map tools (cont.) How do we read maps? Hemispheres
Equator runs east/west and splits earth into northern and southern hemispheres
Prime meridian runs north/south and divides earth into eastern and western hemispheres
How do we read maps?

15. Landforms are natural features of the earth’s surface
Mountains
High elevation (known as peak)
Usually formed through tectonic plate activity
Plains
Flat, dry area created by glaciers
Good for agriculture—fertile soil
Glaciers
Dense, slowly flowing body of ice
Created Great Plains during Ice Age
What types of land formations exist?

16. What types of land formations exist?
Deserts
Arid (very dry) climate
Lacks vegetation or animal life
Wetlands
Saturated with water and lots of wildlife
Rivers
Flowing body of water
Often floods during wet seasons and deposits nutrients into soil
Good for farming
Lakes
Depression filled with water
Formed through tectonics, landslides, craters, glacial activity
What types of land formations exist?

17. How is America divided up?
United States of America
States
Counties
Not in Alaska (boroughs), Louisiana (parishes), or Connecticut or Rhode Island (too small)
Cities, towns or townships, villages, etc.
How is America divided up?