Five Themes of Geography: Location

Lesson on Absolute LocationGrade 6 Humanities

Important Lines on Globes & Maps

1. The Equator2. The Prime Meridian3. The International Date Line4. Meridians of Longitude5. Parallels of Latitude

The Equator

• Located at 0° latitude.• Divides the Earth into Northern & Southern

Hemispheres• 40,075.16 km. long NORTHERN

HEMISPHERE

SOUTHERNHEMISPHERE

Parallels of Latitude

• “Flat-itude” or “Ladder-tude”• Measures from 0° to 90° North or South• 90° N = North Pole, 90° S = South Pole

Prime Meridian• Measures 0° of longitude• Divides the Earth into Eastern & Western Hemispheres

EASTERNHEMISPHERE

WESTERNHEMISPHERE

Meridians of Longitude

• Lines are as “long” as all the others.• All lines meet at the poles• 0° = Prime Meridian, 180° = International Date Line • Measures 180° East or 180° West

Finding Absolute Location

STEP 1: Find your locationSTEP 2: Find LATITUDE (North or South)

N N

SS 60° N

STEP 3: Find LONGITUDE (East or West)E

W

W

E

90° W

Homework Assignment

1. Find the absolute location of a city in each continent (except Antarctica).

• Use your textbook – no computers allowed! • You might have to estimate the numbers.

– Example: New York City: 41°N, 71° W

2. Read pages M4 – M5 in your textbook.

Globes vs. Maps

Compass Rose

• Shows direction on a map• Cardinal Directions (North, South, East, West)• Intermediate Directions:– Northeast– Northwest– Southeast– Southwest

Relative Location