Overview of Geography
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S--Sterwick (talk) 18:24, 12 July 2009 (UTC)
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Hello readers, and welcome to Geography! Now, to a number of kids, geography is boring and horrible. But it is more than just a mean, boring teacher with glasses teaching you a load of dribble! It's not just about where things are, a number of skills include learning about weather, nature, climates, and even fossils. In this page we're going to look at the basics of geography: Map Reading.
[edit] The Basics
Maps are our way of finding places. They can be anything like a rough scribble of your route to school to a complex, detailed OS map. They can be done for different reasons: to find your way around, or perhaps a more 'deep' meaning like making a map using Aborigonal Art symbols. A proper map has four important features: Scale, Symbols, Compass point, and Grid References.
Activity: Why not try making a map of your route to school?
[edit] Scale
Maps can never be real life size, so what do we do to deal with this problem. The answer is Scale. We use scale so the readers know how detailed or not a map is. We also have scale so we can calculate how far something, like a town, is from something else, like a city.
Activity: Which of these scales do you think is the most detailed?
4 Miles to 1cm, or 1 Mile to 4cm?
[edit] Symbols
To mark different buildings and landmarks out, we use symbols. For example, on your route to school, you may draw a picture of a tennis racket for your local sports centre, or a chocolate bar for your local corner shop. In order we know what the symbol represents, we use a key.
Activity: See if you can find a OS map lying around in your house. Have a little look at the key and see if you can find the symbols on the map.
[edit] Compass Point
It is important to remember North, East, South and West. In most maps, North is upright, but check on the map's compass point to make sure. 'Never Eat Shredded Wheat' is a little saying to help you remember where each direction is on the map is. If you get lost remember the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, at midday the sun is in the South. A compass is a navigational device that points North. In short, directions are a very important part of Geography.
--Sterwick (talk) 16:46, 13 July 2009 (UTC)
[edit] Grid References
If you look at a basic map properly, you will notice the map is divided into squares, these are called Grid References. Grid references are a good way to locate things on a map. The bottom or top of the map is numbered, so is one of the sides. The 4-figure grid reference of any part of a map are the numbers at the Bottom left-hand corner of the square. The rule of finding this out is the same as co-ordinates: 'round the corridor, up the stairs'; or 'round the corridor, down the stairs'.
Activity:
1. Have a go at finding the 4-figure Grid References of certain places on a map, and quiz your friends!
2. See if you can find out what a 6-figure grid reference is
[edit] Quiz
1. What does the cross with a square underneath mean?
2. Which direction would you go to get from village hill to the central area of Little Plumpton?
3. What is the 4-figure grid reference of the village hall?
4. What is the 6-figure grid reference of the lake in Little Plumpton?
BASED ON IMAGINARY MAP
[edit] Answers
1. Church with a tower
2. North East is best; North or East are also correct
3. 7001
4. 693017
[edit] References (not grid references!)
Map reading made easy peasy, Ordnance Survey
[edit] External Links
[edit] Main Articles
- Overview of Geography
- Weather
- Ecosystems
- Geology
- Tourism
