Basic Geography Skills Part I

What is Geography?

“Geo” “graphy”Greek

Earth To describe or write

Geography-TO DESCRIBE OR

WRITE ABOUT THE EARTH

MapsCartography

-the study of maps

-Cartographer

The Continents

• About one third of the earth is made up of land areas.

• The large land areas are called continents.

• There are seven continents.

The Seven Continents

1. North America

2. South America

3. Africa

4. Europe5. Asia

6. Australia

7. Antarctica

Oceans• About two thirds of the earth is

covered by water.• Oceans are the largest areas of

water on the earth.• There are four oceans.

The Four Oceans

A. Pacific Ocean

B. Atlantic Ocean

C. Indian Ocean

D.Arctic Ocean

FYN – (For your noggin)

If “Arctic” means near the bear, on which continent will you not find one?

What if the world were boots?

What if the world were its own cultural diversity?

What if the world were doctors to patients ratios?

What if the world were the Black Holes of the internet?

What if the world were the number of Olympic Medals of the 2004 Games?

Mrs. Simpson’s

prediction of the USA Gold

Medals for 2012 !

What if the world were Spam?

What if the world were sheet music?

What if the world were names of counties?

Europe

Europe

Australia

South America

You just thought you hated peas!

• A compass rose shows directions on a map.

• CARDINAL DIRECTIONS – main directions

• INTERMEDIATE DIRECTIONS – between directions

Compass Rose

CARDINAL DIRECTIONS

1.NORTH

2. SOUTH

3. EAST

4. WEST

INTERMEDIATE DIRECTIONS

5. NORTHEAST

6. SOUTHEAST

7. NORTHWEST8. SOUTHWEST

• A map key is also called a legend.

• Symbols represent something else on the

map.

Map Key

Scale

• A scale is the part of the map that

determines distance.

• Is also shows relative size – Zoom In/ Out.

Political MapsPolitical maps show political or man-made features such as:• Boundary – a

division between two areas

• Country – a political division of an area under one government

• State – a unit of a nation having a federal government

Physical MapsA physical map highlights the landforms of an area.• landform – a natural

feature of the landscape

• Elevation map – a specific type of physical map that shows height above or below sea level

Thematic MapsThematic Maps are also called special purpose maps because it illustrates a specific subject.

a.Industry

b. precipitation

c. Population change

d. Fuel use

1. Atlantic2. Indian3. Pacific4. Arctic

5. Africa6. Antarctica7. Indian8. North America

Compass rose pool11 12 13 14 15

7 8 9 10

4 5 6

2 3

13

Start

1. NW _______

2. NE _______

3. W _______

4. W _______

5. NW _______

6. E _______

7. SE _______

8. NE _______

59

87

11128

13

Compass rose pool11 12 13 14 15

7 8 9 10

4 5 6

2 3

115

Start

1. W _______

2. SW _______

3. SW _______

4. E _______

5. NE _______

6. W _______

7. SW _______

8. SW _______

149

56

1095

2

Are We There Yet?1. City A to City B _______2. City C to City A _______3. City A to City D _______4. City B to City E _______5. City A to City E _______

A

B

E

D C

You hold the key!

1. thematic

2. physical

3. political

Color My World

country plantsTime zones

land use rainfall people languages weather towns

minerals canal cape cliff economics atoll basin pond energy

exports hill city fjord politics gulf state coast religion

oil mesa province delta race valley butte bay cultures

gems peak nation river crops ridge county geyser industry

coal bay island sea history glacier reef straitvegetatio

n

highway imports biome iron airports cars age resources capital