JDMcDsblog

The aims of this set of lessons are 

1. To understand the need for symbols in any map

2. To use the key in the Philips Foundation Atlas to find a range of places, features and countries

3. To learn the most commonly used symbols in Ordnance Survey maps (and to think about the best way to learn and memorise them!)

There’s lots of useful information here.

In First Year we have been looking at Atlas Skills. You should be able to look up any place in the index, and find it in the Atlas. Each place is identified by its latitude and longitude. people often mix them up:

Latitude-this is a measure of distance North or South of the Equator. As the world’s surface is curved, we measure distance as an angle. So, we talk about the number of degrees north or south of the equator. The Equator is Zero degrees, the North Pole is 90 North and the South Pole is 90 south. Latitude has a big impact on temperature-the closer places are to the equator, the warmer they tend to be. Places far from the equator are much cooler. Can you think why? (post a comment if you have an answer)

Longitude-Lines of longitude allow us to say how far east or west a place is. All lines of longitude run north-south from the North Pole to the South Pole. Longitude is measured in degrees west or east of the Prime Median which runs through Greenwich in London. The Greenwich Meridian is used  to work out all time zones in the world. Places EAST of Greenwich are AHEAD of us, because the sun rises in the east. Places WEST of Greenwich are BEHIND US.