Map Skills Vocabulary

Globe - A round model of the earth that shows its shape, lands, and directions as they truly relate to one another

Map - A flat drawing of all or part of the earth's surface

Latitude - Imaginary circles that run east to west around the globe

Longitude - Imaginary lines that run north and south. These lines are called meridians

Equator - Imaginary line that circles the middle of the earth. This line divides the northern and southern hemisphere.

Prime Meridian - The imaginary line that divides the eastern and western hemisphere

Hemisphere - Refers to half of the globe

Scale - The size of the map compared to the size of the actual land surface

Intermediate directions - NE, SE, NW, SW

Cardinal directions - North, South, East, and West

Political Maps - Maps that show the names and political boundaries of countries, along with human-made features such as cities

Physical Maps – Maps that show landforms and water features

Thematic Maps - Maps that show specific topics in detail

Map Key/ Legend - Explains the symbols, colors, and lines of the map

General Purpose Maps - Maps that show a wide range of information about an area