More to Know!
Geography
Using Maps and Globes
What Does a Globe Show?
A globe is a model of Earth. Like Earth, a globe
is a round object, or sphere. A globe is a useful
tool for showing what Earth looks like.
Globes show the parts of Earth that are
land and the parts that are water. Which does
Earth have more of, water or land?
Earth’s largest bodies of water are called
oceans. There are five oceans—the Atlantic,
Arctic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern.
Globes also show the large bodies of
land called continents. The seven continents
are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe,
North America, and South America.
What Are the Four Hemispheres?
When you look at a globe you can only see
one half at a time. A word for half a sphere
is hemisphere. The word “hemi” means half.
Geographers divide Earth into four different
hemispheres.
Earth is divided into the Northern
Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere by
the equator. The equator is an imaginary line
that lies halfway between the North Pole and
the South Pole, or at 0° latitude.
Earth is divided into the Eastern
Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere by
the prime meridian. The prime meridian is an
imaginary line that runs from north to south
around Earth, or at 0° longitude.
The United States is in the Western
Hemisphere and the Northern Hemisphere! If
you are wondering how it can be two places at
once it is because each hemisphere describes
our country’s location in reference to the
equator and prime meridian. The United States
is in the Western Hemisphere because it is
west of the prime meridian. It is also in the
Northern Hemisphere because it is north of
the equator.
What Does a Map Show?
Maps are drawings of places on Earth. You
might use a map to help you find your way
around a mall or across the country!
Most maps have features to help you
understand the information on the map. These
features might include a locator, map title, map
key, map legend, map symbol, map scale, and a
compass rose.
Why Do Maps Have Titles and
Symbols?
When using a map, first look at the map title.
The title names the area the map shows. It may
also tell you the kind of information shown on
the map.
A map symbol is something that stands
for something else. Many maps use the color
blue to stand for water and stars to stand for
capital cities.
A map key gives the meaning of each
symbol used on the map. When you look at a
map you should always study the map key.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
More to Know!
Geography
What Is a Map Scale?
All maps are smaller than the real area that
they show. So how can you figure out the real
distance between places? Most maps include
a scale. The scale shows the relationship
between distances on a map and real distances
on the ground.
What Do Locators Show?
A locator is a small map set onto the main
map. It shows where the area of the main map
is located. For example, if you are looking at a
city map of Miami, Florida, the locator would
show you a small map of the state of Florida.
This locator gives you perspective on your
location.
What Are Cardinal Directions?
Directions describe the way you face or
move to get somewhere. The main—or
cardinal—directions are north, east, south,
and west.
If you face the North Pole, you are facing
north. When you face north, south is directly
behind you, west is to your left, and east is to
your right.
How Do You Use a Compass Rose?
A compass rose is a small drawing on a map
that can help you find directions.
The cardinal directions are written as
N, E, S, and W. There are “spikes” between the
cardinal directions on a compass rose. These
spikes show the intermediate directions, or
in-between directions.
The intermediate directions are northeast,
southeast, southwest, and northwest. The
directions northwest is often written as
NW. What letters are used for the other
intermediate directions?
Intermediate directions help us describe
relative location. When we use relative location
we describe one place in relation to another.
For example, Tampa, Florida is southwest of
Orlando, Florida.
What are the Different Kinds of Maps?
There are many different types of maps. These
include political maps, physical maps, and
transportation maps to name just a few!
What Is a Political Map?
A political map shows information such as
cities, capital cities, states, and countries.
Political maps use lines to show borders. The
states or countries are also shown in different
colors.
What Are Physical Maps?
There are different kinds of physical maps. One
kind of physical map shows landforms, or the
shapes that make up Earth’s surface. These
maps are called landform maps. Mountains,
hills, and plains are all examples of landforms.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.