1. A look at our home planet, Earth
Geography
A look at our home planet, Earth

2. Geography is the study of
Earth’s physical features

3. An important tool used to study geography is a
Map!

4. Map reading is an important skill, with a vocabulary all its own!
Cardinal Directions
Compass Rose
Prime Meridian
Map reading is an important skill, with a vocabulary all its own!
Longitude
The Equator
Latitude
Lines of Parallel

5. Cardinal Directions
are North, East,
South and
West.

6. Cardinal Directions are shown on a map as a compass rose.

7. Latitude
is shown on a map as a horizontal
line.

8. They go around, but never touch or intersect each other.
Lines of Latitude are parallel lines.
They go around, but never touch
or intersect each other.

9. The Equator is a line of latitude which is the midway point between the northern and southern hemispheres

10. Longitude is a vertical line seen on a globe or
map. The long
lines goes
top to bottom.

11. Prime Meridian is zero degrees longitude

12. Latitude and Longitude work together on a map or globe
to find exact locations.

13. It may look like this

14. Or it may look like this

15. And Hemispheres are our next set of lessons!
Something New For You!
Each half of the Earth is called a Hemisphere
And Hemispheres are our next set of lessons!

16. We live in the
Western Hemisphere
We live here ->

17. It includes North and South America.
The Western Hemisphere begins at 0 degrees longitude, (the PRIME MERIDIAN).
It includes North and South America.

18. North and South America make up half the world, a hemisphere.
It is known as the Western Hemisphere.

19. But Hemispheres are another lesson
North America is a continent made of 7 small countries of Central America and 3 large countries, which are Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Western Hemisphere
But Hemispheres are another lesson

20. America is a country located on the continent of North America

21. Canada is another country found on the continent of North America
Canada is another country found on the continent of North America. It is north of the United States.

22. Mexico is another country located on the continent of North America
Mexico is another country located on the continent of North America. It is south of the United States.

23. Canada America Mexico Is made of 3 large countries
REVIEW: The continent of North America
Is made of 3 large countries
And 7 smaller countries of Central America
Canada
America
Mexico

24. Mexico is a country of North American continent
And it is the
northern most country in the region of
Latin America.

25. Is also in the Western Hemisphere
Latin America
Is also in the Western Hemisphere
the Caribbean Islands
the Caribbean Islands
Middle America,
and South America.
Middle America
Latin America
Is made up of
3 regions:
South America
1. Middle America
2. Caribbean Islands
3. South America

26. The most northern region of Latin America is Middle America.
Middle America is made up of Mexico and seven nations south of it.

27. The most northern region of Latin America is Middle America.1 1
Middle America
is made up of Mexico and seven nations south of it. 1 1 1 1 1 1
Let’s use this slide and use our geography skills to map out Middle America by answering questions 32 A – F.

28. Middle America is made up of Mexico and seven nations south of it.
Middle America forms a crooked, narrow isthmus
in southern most part of Central America.
The most northern region of Latin America is Middle America.
Middle America is made up of Mexico and seven nations south of it.
An isthmus is a thin piece of land surrounded by water on two sides. 1. 6. 7.
It usually connects two larger land masses.
The Isthmus of Panama connects North America to South America.

29. A continent which is in Latin America and the Western Hemisphere
In Class Quiz!
Use the compass rose to help answer questions 38 – 44 on your study guide.
North America 
The Isthmus of Panama connects 
North America to South America.
South
America
A continent which is in Latin America and the Western Hemisphere

30. North and South America are two of the world’s 7 continents.
A continent is one of seven major land masses on the earth. There are seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

32. In a while
Crocodile!