Unit 12 — Geography and Maps

Welcome back!

Geography helps us understand the world around us.

It explains where places are, what they are like, and how people interact with their environment.

Maps help us travel, study Earth, and learn about people living in different regions.

Today we will build upon the geography skills you learned in earlier grades.

Physical and Human Geography

Geographers study two main kinds of features.

Physical features are created by nature.

Examples include:

• mountains
• rivers
• lakes
• forests
• deserts
• oceans

Human features are created by people.

Examples include:

• cities
• roads
• bridges
• farms
• schools
• parks

Both physical and human features help describe a place.

Reading Maps

Maps provide information in many ways.

Most maps include:

• a title
• a compass rose
• a scale
• symbols
• a map key

Each part helps readers understand what the map shows.

Latitude and Longitude

People use an imaginary system of lines to locate places on Earth.

Latitude measures how far north or south a place is from the Equator.

Longitude measures how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian.

Together, latitude and longitude help identify exact locations.

Landforms

Earth has many different landforms.

Some common landforms are:

• mountains
• hills
• valleys
• plains
• plateaus
• islands

Each landform has its own characteristics and influences how people live.

Climate

Climate describes the usual weather in a place over many years.

Different climates include:

• tropical
• desert
• temperate
• polar

Climate affects:

• plants
• animals
• farming
• clothing
• homes
• transportation

People often adapt their lifestyles to the climate where they live.

Natural Resources

Natural resources come from Earth.

Examples include:

• water
• forests
• soil
• minerals
• sunlight
• wind

People use natural resources to grow food, build homes, make products, and produce energy.

Using resources wisely helps protect them for future generations.

Activity

Choose one country or state.

Research and record:

• its location
• major landforms
• climate
• important natural resources
• one interesting fact

Then locate it on a map or globe.

Practice

Answer these questions.

What is the difference between a physical feature and a human feature?

What does a compass rose show?

What do latitude and longitude measure?

Name four landforms.

How does climate affect people's lives?

Why are natural resources important?

Review

Today you learned:

• geography studies places and environments
• maps contain several useful features
• latitude and longitude identify locations
• Earth has many different landforms
• climate influences how people live
• natural resources support human life

Understanding geography helps us appreciate both the diversity of Earth and the many ways people adapt to different environments.

Looking Ahead

Next we will learn about communities and government.

You will discover how communities organize themselves, make decisions, and work together to serve the common good.