Map Skills

• Three continents lie on the Equator (South America, Africa & Asia)
• Three oceans lie on the Equator (Pacific, Atlantic & Indian)
• Latitude: A mapping co-ordinate that shows us the North-South position of a place on the Earth's surface. It shows us how far North or South of the Equator we are
• Longitude: A mapping co-ordinate that shows us the East-West position of a place on the Earth's surface. It shows us how far East or West of the Prime Meridian we are.
• Writing longitude & latitude coordinates:

  1. Always write the North/South position before the East/West position
  2. Always start from 0°, 0° where the Prime Meridian and Equator cross
• Why are symbols easy to use on a map?

  • They do not take up much space
  • They do not need to be translated into many different languages
  • They are easy to see/recognise quickly
• There are three types of scales on a map - Linear, Statement & Representative Fraction
• Seasons:

  • Arctic and Antarctica (two seasons) - Polar day, polar night
  • Mid - latitudes (four seasons) - Summer, Spring, Autumn, Winter
  • Tropics (two seasons) - Wet and dry