How To Study Geography Maps

Prep With A Classmate

Of course, you can always choose to study the old-fashioned way: Grab a friend or classmate and take turns quizzing each other on the states, regions, nations, topography, or climate zones you are required to study. Use one of the maps you created in the previous sections as the basis for your pretest. Create flash cards of the states, for example, or download them for free. Then mix up the cards before you test your partner on the states, countries, regions, or whatever map parts you need to learn.

Meridians Or Lines Of Longitude

The prime meridian sits at 0 degrees longitude and divides the earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The prime meridian is defined as an imaginary line that runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, a suburb of London. The Eastern Hemisphere includes the continents of Europe, Asia, and Australia, while the Western Hemisphere includes North and South America. All meridians east of the prime meridian are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees east the lines west of the prime meridian are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees west . The 0 and 180 lines do not have a letter attached to them. The meridian at 180 degrees is called the International Date Line. The International Date Line is opposite the prime meridian and indicates the start of each day . Each day officially starts at 12:01 a.m., at the International Date Line. Do not confuse the International Date Line with the prime meridian . The actual International Date Line does not follow the 180-degree meridian exactly. A number of alterations have been made to the International Date Line to accommodate political agreements to include an island or country on one side of the line or another.

The Earth And Graticule Location

When identifying a region or location on the earth, the first step is to understand its relative and absolute locations. Relative location is the location on the earths surface with reference to other places, taking into consideration features such as transportation access or terrain. Relative location helps one compare the advantages of one location with those of another. Absolute location, on the other hand, refers to an exact point on the earths surface without regard to how that point is related to any other place. Absolute location is vital to the cartographic process and to human activities that require an agreed-upon method of identifying a place or point.

Just as you were taught in geometry that there are 360 degrees in a circle or a sphere, the earth also has 360 degrees, and they are measured using a grid pattern called the graticule. Lines of latitude and longitude allow any absolute location on the earth to have an identifiable address of degrees north or south and east or west, which allows geographers to accurately locate, measure, and study spatial activity.

Figure 1.3 Basic Lines of Longitude and Latitude

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What Can I Do With My Geography Degree

The knowledge and skills gained by majoring in Geography position graduates for careers as geospatial analysts, planners, researchers, and teachers. Mary Washington alumni with degrees in Geography currently work for a range of federal agencies, local and state governments, industry leaders in geospatial technologies, and service organizations. In addition, many alumni have excelled in top graduate programs. Profiles of Geography Department alumni can be found on this page.

Common employers for geography majors include:

• Intelligence Agencies
• City, Regional, and State Planning Departments
• Environmental, Engineering, or Architectural Consultation Firms
• Manufacturing Firms
• Government Agencies
• Schools and Teaching

How Is Height Show On A Map

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Us Geography Activities For Middle School

Make your own U.S. states trading cards to help teach your kids US geography.

This Texas geography unit would be a good addition to your US geography lessons. Inside youll also find what you need to do this type of study with whatever states you choose.

When your kids play the classic game Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego, theyll expand their knowledge of U.S. geography, expand their vocabulary, and practice map-reading.

Test your knowledge of state capitals, famous landmarks, and US geography with the All Around the USA game.

Your middle schooler can build their US geography knowledge with this United States atlas scavenger hunt.

Kids will encounter Important landmarks, historical sites, and capital cities while moving around the United States while playing Destination USA board game.

While playing the 10 Days in the USA, players will use a combination of transportation and state cards to create a connecting vacation across the country.

Watch How the States Got Their Shapes and see how our countrys borders were created and how theyre still changing.

Learn how to create your own U.S. geography unit study.

Play Stack the States to see if you can answer geography questions and then stack the states until you reach the goal line. This a great app to play on the Kindle Fire if your tween has one.

Gather a few homeschool families and plan an Around the World day.

Play The World Game to help your tween learn world geography facts.

A River By Marc Martin

Why we love A River

A River by Marc Martin is a beautiful and deeply textured picture geography book following rivers to the ocean, with each new landscape explored through stunning illustrations.

The river passes through landscapes of bustling cities to calm countryside fields, between hills and into the depths of the jungle. Students follow the girls journey recognising different ways people and animals live in and by the river across different civilisations, as well as how rivers change or impact the landscape. A River fosters discussion about the different environments, climates and ultimate course of a river in a stunning and poetic tale, perfect for 4-12 year olds.

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World Geography Through Maps

Geography is one of the main subjects of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It comprises Human Geography, Physical Geography, and World Geography. Questions from World Geography are asked in both Prelims and Mains of the IAS Exam. This article gives you certain tips needed to solve the map questions from the world maps section. Read on to find out what to learn, how to learn, and what questions you can expect from this section.

Aspirants can also refer to the articles related to Geography preparation from the links given in the table below:

How To Study Geography

There are two types of geography: physical geography and human geography. Physical geography is the study of the earth’s physical characteristics and processes, including climate and weather systems, rock formations, oceans and the shifting of tectonic plates. Human geography, on the other hand, studies human societies how they’re formed, how they operate, and the struggles they face to thrive and survive. The branch of geography that most students will study at some point in their high school or college career is physical geography.

The study of physical geography revolves around the questions “Where?” and “Why?”. It usually begins by attempting to answer “Where?” Where are continents located? Where are the oceans? Where are the seas, major rivers, etc? As you progress in your study of geography, you’ll extend this investigation to include topography, natural resources, and of course, human civilizations countries, cities and towns.

Once you’ve gotten a hand on the WHERE, you’ll begin to address the WHY. Why are continents located where they are? What forms the oceans? How does plate tectonics work? Why do people choose to live in certain areas? Is it due to the availability of natural resources, ease of transportation, climate, or other factors?

Below we’ll explore tips, skills and strategies that will help you study and learn geography more effectively and efficiently.

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Important Topics In Maps For Upsc 2022

Prior to learning, the candidates must first think and analyse what topics are important to prepare in maps. As per previous years questions, most of the questions in the maps are asked from India and the world. The candidates should first prepare those topics that have been previously asked in the exam to be exam ready. We have compiled a list of topics, candidates can cross-check the same and start their preparations:

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Revision Tips For World Geography Through Maps

The list of 20 tips are provided below to revise World Geography for UPSC through maps:

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Describing A Choropleth Map

TEA is a great acronym to use when describing patterns on a choropleth map. TEA stands for trend, example and anomaly.

Trend

What is the general pattern shown on the map?

• Is there an even distribution ?
• Is there an uneven distribution ?

Examples

Discuss the pattern on the map including examples. You could consider:

• What continents/countries are most of the feature contained in?
• Which have the least?
• Are these HICs or LICs?
• Are they near the equator or further away?
• Are they inland or coastal?

Anomalies

Are there any areas/regions that stand out as being extremes .

The map below shows a choropleth map showing rainfall data for the UK. Before we can describe it we need to establish exactly what the map shows. From the information provided, we can see that the map shows rainfall data for April 2020. It is clear that the map does not show rainfall totals. Instead, it shows the amount of rainfall that has occurred as a percentage of the 1961-1990 average. If the map was shaded white , it would mean that the amount of rain that fell in April would be close to the average rainfall that occurred between 1961 and 1990. However, it is clear from the map that this is not the case. A large proportion of the map is shaded brown. This means that much of the country experienced less rainfall in April 2020, compared to the average for 1961-1990. Now we have established what the map shows, we can now describe it. An example is included below the map.

Dont Sweat The Small Countries Too Much

When youre studying geographyespecially if youre a beginnerdont worry about national borders too much. There are around 196 countries in the world, and memorizing every single one is a BIG challenge. Instead, focus on the larger and more news-making countries to start, and spend your deliberate learning energies on the more important geography facts outlined above.

Only once youve mastered the landscape itself should you start worrying more about political boundaries. As a bonus, youre going to have an easier time with political boundaries once you know the landscape: many political boundaries fall along the lines of rivers, mountain ranges, or other natural features.

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Increased Interest In Maps

Over time, maps have become an important part of society at large. To paraphrase a common expression, maps are not just for geography anymore. Maps are more widely available than ever before. The new technology of geographic information systems has expanded the ease and ability by which maps are produced. We find maps in newspapers, television weather forecasts, automobile navigation devices, the internet, and handheld PDAs. Mapping systems are being used to track repair technicians, to share information about environmental issues, to sell houses, to manage 911 services, and for homeland security. Animated maps and other visualizations have become a key tool in studying a range of scientific phenomena. Because of the widespread use of maps today, learning how to read, interpret, and produce them has become a new essential skill.

Geographers, psychologists, and cognitive scientists are becoming interested in the kind of thinking, termed spatial thinking, that underlies map reading and interpretation as well as forms of analysis in geography, other social and physical sciences, and mathematics. Spatial thinking is defined as the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to use concepts of space, tools of representation like maps and graphs, and processes of reasoning to organize and solve problems .

How To Study For A Geography Exam

This article was co-authored by Josh Jones. Josh Jones is the CEO and Founder of Test Prep Unlimited, a GMAT prep tutoring service. Josh built the world’s first and only score guarantee program for private GMAT tutoring. He has presented at the QS World MBA Tour and designed math curricula for Chicago Public Schools. He has over 15 years of private tutoring and classroom teaching experience and a BA in Math from the University of Chicago.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 87% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 254,642 times.

Geography exams can be difficult to study for, especially since they require memorization skills. Maps and cities can be tricky to visualize. There are lots of specialist terms that can become confusing and mixed-up in your head, especially if geography isn’t your best subject. Lots of techniques for studying for any exam can be useful for geography too. By combining the general principles of good studying, with some specific steps to improve you geographical knowledge and help you remember terms and information, you can give yourself the best chance to get a good grade in your exam.

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Electronic Apps And Hands

• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

The map quiz is a favorite learning tool for teachers of geography, social studies, and history. The purpose of a map quiz is to help students learn the names, physical features, and traits of places around the world. However, many students make the mistake of trying to study by reading a map over and over, merely looking at the features, mountains, and place names that are already provided. This is not a good way to study.

Who Knows Where The Global Location Guessing Board Game

Why we love the board game

A fabulous game for all the family about guessing where places are on a world map. With over 1000 questions spanning across 5 topics including cities and towns, capitals, famous events and iconic landmarks. With such a simple format, yet surprisingly addictive competitive structure, It’s unsurprising this board game has won so many awards. Everyone guesses every question so no waiting for your turn.

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Parallels Or Lines Of Latitude

Figure 1.4 Noted Lines of Latitude

The equator is the largest circle of latitude on Earth. The equator divides the earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is called 0 degrees latitude. The other lines of latitude are numbered from 0 to 90 degrees going toward each of the poles. The lines north of the equator toward the North Pole are north latitude, and each of the numbers is followed by the letter N. The lines south of the equator toward the South Pole are south latitude, and each of the numbers is followed by the letter S. The equator is the only line of latitude without any letter following the number. Notice that all lines of latitude are parallel to the equator and that the North Pole equals 90 degrees N and the South Pole equals 90 degrees S. Noted parallels include both the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, which are 23.5 degrees from the equator. At 66.5 degrees from the equator are the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle near the North and South Pole, respectively.