Social Studies - Map Skills
- Geography – the study of the people and places of Earth
- Map – a representation, usually a flat surface, that shows the features of an area of the earth
3. Globe - a sphere on which is depicted a map of the earth
4. Map Key/Legend- an area on a map that explains the symbols used on the map
5. Symbol – a picture or mark used to represent something on a
a. A star on a map usually represent state capitals
b. A star in the middle of circle generally represent the capital of a country
6. Capital - the city or town that is the official seat of government in a country, state, etc.: Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
7. Boundary - something that indicates bounds or limits
a. International boundary – locates the where one country begins and ends; separates countries
b. State boundary – locates where states begin and end; separates states
c. Continental boundaries – locates where one continent begins and ends; separates continents
8. Continent - one of the main landmasses of the globe
a. Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica
9. Compass - an instrument for determining directions, as by means of a freely rotating magnetized needle that indicates magnetic north
10. Directions - the line along which anything lies, faces, moves, etc., with reference to the point or region toward which it is directed
11. Cardinal points- the four chief directions of the compass
a. north, south, east, and west points
12. Intermediate directions-
13. Hemisphere- one half of the Earth’s surface
14. Equator – imaginary line that divides the world into Northern and Southern hemispheres, the starting point in middle of the globe for measuring latitude, 0° or zero degrees
15. Prime meridian – imaginary line that divides the world into Eastern and Western hemispheres, the starting point for measuring longitude, , 0° or zero degrees
16. Latitude – imaginary lines around the globe that run east to west; also called parallels
17. Longitude – imaginary lines around the globe that run between the North Pole and the South Poles; also called meridians
- Coastline
19. Scale – a diagram found on a map that explains how to calculate distance; a series of marks laid down at determinate distances, a certain relative or proportionate size
20. Region – an area defined by certain features that set it apart from other areas
21. Location – where something can be found
22. River - a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course
23. Population – the people living in an area
24. Ocean - the vast body of salt water that covers almost three fourths of the earth's surface
a. Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Antarctic Oceans
25. Sea - the salt waters that cover the greater part of the earth's surface; more or less definitely marked off by land boundaries; landlocked body of water.
26.
27. Elevation – the height of the land above sea level
28. Sea level - the horizontal level corresponding to the surface of the sea at mean level between high and low tide
29. Landform - a specific geomorphic feature on the surface of the earth, such as plains, plateaus, hills, and valleys
30. Mountain range - a series of more or less connected mountains ranged in a line
a. The largest mountain range in the United States is the Rocky Mountain Range
31. Plain - an area of mainly flat land not significantly higher than surrounding areas and with relatively minor differences in elevation, commonly less than 500 ft., within the area
32. Plateau – a high flat landform that rises steeply from the land around it
33. Tundra - one of the vast, nearly flat, treeless plains of the arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America
34. Peninsula- an area of land almost completely surrounded by water except for an isthmus connecting it with the mainland
a. Florida
35. Basin – an area with a low center surrounded by higher land; bowl shaped
36. Coast – a point of land that sticks out into water
37. Glacier – a huge mass of slowly moving ice
38. Bay – a body of water partly surrounded by land but open to the sea
39. Gulf - a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land
40. Delta – a triangle-shaped area at the mouth of a river