Tools of GEO and MAPS: How do we use them???

Research methods/TOOLS used to study Geography:

• Direct Observation – visiting a region, aerial photos & satellite

• Mapping / Cartography – study & making maps• Statistics - math• Technology – Graphic information systems (GIS) • Definition: computer systems that store and analyze

geographic data (ex: GOOGLE Earth)– Global Positioning system (GPS) • Definition: a system that uses satellites and receivers to

determine absolute location

T.O.D.A.L.S.I.G.S.’s.• T is for TITLE: What is this map of?• O is for Orientation: Compass Rose• D is for Date: When was this map created?• A is for Author: Who created this map?

• L is for LEGEND: What do the things on this map represent? (think key!)

S is for SCALE• Map Scale is the ratio of the distance on the map

to the distance on the ground

Small ScaleLarge Scale

SCALE

***One inch on a map could equal 1,000 kilometers in real life! It shows us distance!

• I is for Index: What does the map include?• Used usually in books of maps called ATLASES

G is for Grid System• Combining Longitude and Latitude allow people to

identify exact locations of places on the earth (absolute location)

• (DON’T COPY below)

Example:Denver is found at 39 degrees North Latitude and 104 degrees West Longitude

GRID: Meridian (Longitude) • Lines that run north and south or vertical: divide world

into Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere• 0 degrees called Prime Meridian

– Goes through Greenwich, England– 180 degrees is called the International date line: Cross the line from the east

to the west and a day is added. Cross from west to the east and a day is subtracted

GRID: Parallels (Latitude)• Imaginary lines that run west to east or horizontal • 0 degrees latitude called equator• Two other major parallels are the Tropic of Cancer

and the Tropic of Capricorn-located 23 ½ degrees above and below the equator

• S is for source: What did you use to make this map? (IF not obtained by direct experience or observation)… GIVE CREDIT!

• ’s is for: surrounding areas (places or features that border the map)

MAP ACTIVITY• Create a map of your home or school using

the TODALSIGS’s• You don’t have to include I or G• For the key, color code rooms or buildings

and include symbols for things like trees if necessary

• It should look like a blueprint (like you’ve chopped off the roof of your house and you’re looking down at it)

“Know Your World”: MAP Activity #2• Label the areas on the maps with the letters given.• Bodies of Water (label and color blue): Oceans (4),

Mediterranean/Black/Aral/Norwegian/North/Caspian/Red Seas and Sea of Japan (8), Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, Nile River, Volga River, Rio Grande, Danube River, Persian Gulf, English Channel

• Land (label): Continents(7), Rocky Mts., Himalaya Mts., Sahara Desert, Alps (Mts.), Carpathian Mts., Ural Mts.

• Find (write on back): examples of a Peninsula, Archipelago, plateau• Find Latitude and Longitudes for (label, write on back): New York

City; Tokyo, Japan; Moscow, Russia; Cape town, South Africa; Mexico City, Mexico; London, England; Paris, France; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Munich, Germany; Constantinople, Turkey; Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia….. Include a city of your choice as well!

• IF THINGS DON’T FIT…. Create a KEY! (TODALSIG’s!)