Basic World Geography Skills

Unit 0 | Basic World Geography and Social Studies Concepts

​Part 1 : Basic World Geography

• A continent is a large landmass in which all the world's countries are located. Oceans are large bodies of salt water that surround the seven continents.

• There are seven major continents and five major oceans of the world.

• Use the featured map to plot them in your notes.

​Continents and Oceans

​Big Question: What are the major continents and oceans and where are they located on the world map?

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled 1 on the featured map?

• North America

• Europe

• Atlantic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled 2 on the featured map?

• Arctic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

• Asia

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled 3 on the featured map?

• Indian Ocean

• Arctic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Africa

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled 4 on the featured map?

• Southern Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Africa

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled 5 on the featured map?

• Indian Ocean

• Australia

• Southern Ocean

• Africa

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled F on the featured map?

• Europe

• Southern Ocean

• Antarctica

• Australia

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled E on the featured map?

• Africa

• Pacific Ocean

• Asia

• North America

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled A on the featured map?

• Africa

• Pacific Ocean

• Europe

• North America

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled C on the featured map?

• Asia

• Europe

• Antarctica

• North America

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled B on the featured map?

• Arctic Ocean

• Southern Ocean

• South America

• Pacific Ocean

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled G on the featured map?

• Africa

• Southern Ocean

• Antartica

• Asia

Multiple Choice

Which continent or ocean is labeled D on the featured map?

• Asia

• Europe

• Pacific Ocean

• Africa

Big Question: What is the difference between relative and absolute location?

Relative and Absolute Location

• Location is simply where something, or someone, is. There are two main ways to determine location.

  1). Relative location uses cardinal directions (north/south/east/west), political or physical landmarks, and/or distance in relation to something's location.

  2). Absolute location uses exact coordinates using latitude and longitude to determine location. An exact address is another way to determine this.

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between absolute and relative location?

• Absolute location is based on landmarks, while relative location is based on coordinates.
• Absolute location changes over time, while relative location remains constant.
• Absolute location is used in rural areas, while relative location is used in urban areas.
• Absolute location is fixed coordinates on Earth, while relative location is described in relation to other landmarks.

Big Question: How can we use political boundaries to determine our relative location?

​

​Using Relative Location

• ​Remember, relative location is not exact. It uses places, directions, and landmarks to determine a general location. Another way is to use political boundaries.

• Political boundaries are manmade areas that governments and people use to claim territory such as continents, countries, states, and cities.

• So, if a person from Germany asks you where you're from, you might say the US, and that you live in Georgia. Perhaps you would even say you lived in Pike County, which is close to Atlanta. Even though it is not your exact address, a German person would have a good idea of where you live.

Multiple Choice

How can we use political boundaries to determine our relative location?

• Using physical landmarks to determine our location
• Relying on weather patterns to establish our relative location
• Referring to historical events to understand our position
• Using boundaries like continents, countries, and cities to understand location.

Big Question: How do we determine absolute location?

​Using Absolute Location

• ​Absolute location is an exact location on earth. In order to find it, we use latitude and longitude lines.

• Latitude lines run side to side, or horizontally, and are parallel to each other. The starting point for latitude is at 0 degrees in the middle of the earth. This line is known as the Equator.

• Longitude lines run up and down, or vertically, from north to south. The starting point for longitude is also at 0 degrees and is known as the Prime Meridian.

• When these lines intersect around the globe, they form a grid. We use this grid to determine absolute location.

• GPS uses satellites and an app on your phone or in your car with the latitude/longitude grid in to determine your absolute location in real time and help you get where you're going.

Multiple Choice

How do we determine absolute location?

• Using latitude and longitude coordinates
• Using elevation and distance
• By counting the number of trees in the area
• Based on the time of day

Big Question: How does a legend or key and a compass rose help us understand maps?

​

Reading a Map

• ​There are dozens of types of maps that all serve their own purpose. In 6th grade, we will mostly focus on physical and political maps.

• A physical map displays natural physical features such as mountains, oceans, rivers, lakes, deserts, etc.

• A political map features manmade political features like continents, countries, counties, cities, etc.

• The legend or key on a map helps us understand what the symbols and colors used on the map mean.

• A compass rose displays the cardinal and secondary directions (north, northeast, south, southeast, etc.) to help us understand where places are.

​(Compass Rose)

​(Map Legend/Key)

Multiple Choice

How does a legend or key and a compass rose help us understand maps

• They provide important information for interpreting and navigating maps.
• They show the average temperature of regions on a map.

• They indicate the population density of areas on a map.

• They are used for drawing or creating new maps.

End of Part 1

Part 2 | Social Studies Concepts

​Conflict and Change

• ​Conflicts usually refer to arguments between two or more groups of people that sometimes turn into physical war.

• ​Once these conflicts are resolved, change occurs for both sides.

• ​If change does not occur, more conflict almost always follows.

​Government

• ​Governments function to protect their citizens, establish and enforce laws, and provide goods and services.

• There are many ways that people do this around the world.

• Almost every government can be identified by one of the main systems such as autocracy or democracy.

​Economics

• ​The way in which a people, government, or region organize money and the production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services.

​Breaking it down...

• ​Goods are physical things people can buy or use such as a computer or pencil. Services are skills provided for people

• ​Production is how a good or service is provided or given to people.

• ​Consumption is how people use goods and services.

• ​Distribution is how goods and services are given to, or made available to people.

Multiple Choice

Which concept does the following definition describe?

​An organized way to protect their citizens, establish and enforce laws, and provide goods and services.

• Environment

• Government

• Economics

• Culture

Multiple Choice

Which concept does the following definition describe?

​The way in which a people, government, or region organize money and the production, consumption, and distribution of goods and services.

​

• Environment

• Government

• Economics

• Culture

​Human-Environment Interaction

• ​Humans and the environment are constantly interacting with each other in both negative and positive ways.

• ​Positive examples can be responsible farming or clean renewable energy. Negative ways can be deforestation, harsh weather, or dangerous diseases or wildlife.

​Culture

• ​Culture includes the religion, language, dress, customs, physical traits, and more of a group of people.

• ​As locations change and get more distant from each other, the culture becomes more different.

Open Ended

In two to three sentences, describe the culture of Pike County. Include our main customs, physical traits, language/accent, religions, traditions, and any other aspect.

​Location

• ​Location is simply "where something is". This could mean a geographic location or the location of a country or group of people.

• ​Location significantly impacts every other concept. ​For example, the government, economy, culture, and environment of China is much different than that of the US because our locations are so distant from one another.

Multiple Choice

True or False?

Location significantly impacts all other concepts.

• True

• False