Basic Geography Concepts

1. Maps and Globes

Maps and globes are tools that help us understand the world around us. A map is a flat representation of the Earth's surface, while a globe is a spherical model of the Earth. Both are used to show countries, continents, oceans, and other geographical features.

Example: Think of a map as a flat picture of the world that you can unfold and look at. A globe, on the other hand, is like a small Earth that you can hold and spin to see different parts of the world.

2. Latitude and Longitude

Latitude and longitude are imaginary lines that help us locate places on the Earth. Latitude lines run horizontally and measure distance north or south of the equator. Longitude lines run vertically and measure distance east or west of the prime meridian.

Example: Imagine the Earth as a big orange. Latitude lines are like the slices you make when cutting the orange horizontally. Longitude lines are like the segments you cut vertically. Together, they help you find any spot on the orange.

3. Continents and Oceans

Continents are large landmasses on the Earth, and oceans are large bodies of saltwater that cover most of the Earth's surface. There are seven continents (Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia) and five oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern).

Example: Think of the Earth as a big puzzle. The continents are the puzzle pieces that make up the land part of the puzzle, while the oceans are the blue parts that fill in the gaps between the land pieces.