Geography SkillsGeography Skills

1. Finding Location

• Can use GPS device, compass, theodolite

1. Reading a map

• Things to look for:

Title: says what the map is about

Compass Rose: Tells you which way is north on the map

Labels: explain features on the map

Legend: tells you what colors and symbols on the map mean

Lines of latitude: help give you absolute location

Lines of longitude: help give you absolute location

Scale: allows you to calculate distances on the map

Symbols: represent different things – check the legend

Colors: represent different things – check the legend

Find:

2. Title

3. Compass Rose

4. Labels

1. Legend

2. Lines of Latitude

3. Lines of Longitude

4. Scale

1. Symbols

2. Colors

1

2

3

4

5

6

8

9

3. Scale

• How big the map is in comparison to real distance

• The bigger the scale, the more details that can be included

e. Using the geographic grid

• Using latitude and longitude

8. Projections

• A way of showing the curved surface of the earth on a two dimensional map.

• The earth is projected onto a flat surface.

• National Geographic

1. Using Different Types of Maps

• Different types of maps are used for different purposes.

• Political maps are different from physical maps

6. Thematic maps

• Show different things, such as population density, climate, vegetation, etc.