1. Map Skills Basics

2. Why we use maps Maps help us locate places all over the world.
Maps are preferred to globes because:
Maps show more detail
Maps are easier to use
Maps are more accurate

3. Continents
There are 7 large landmasses on the earth. We recognize these landmasses as continents.
North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Antarctica.
Add Australia to your notes
Asia is the largest continent in both size and population

4. Oceans The Earth has 1 major ocean that we divide into 4.
Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean
The question of the 5th ocean?
Southern Ocean

5. How we look at the Earth The Earth is divided into 4 hemispheres.
East and West
North and South
Hemisphere: a division of the earth in half

6. Latitude Latitude or parallels: east and west circles around the globe
Equator: 0 degrees latitude~ cuts the earth into Northern and Southern hemispheres

7. Longitude
Longitude or meridians: north and south circles around the globe.
Prime Meridian: 0 degrees longitude- cuts the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
Runs through Greenwich, England.
Longitude lines meet at the North and South Poles.

8. BrainPop

9. Scale
Scale is used to determine the size of an area on a map or globe.
Helps us to determine distance between two or more locations.

10. Using Scale to Determine Distance
Place a small piece of paper along the scale so you can see the miles just above the edge of the paper.
2. On the edge of the paper, mark the map distances

11. Using Scale Cont.
The edge of your paper should now look like a make scale. Use it to measure the distance between locations.

12. Compass Rose Compass Rose shows the directions on a map.
Cardinal Directions
North, South, East and West
Intermediate Directions:
Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest

13. Key or Legend
A map key (also known as a legend) tells what the symbols on a map represent.
Every map key may be different.