Geography Map Skills

- The Earth is round
- Globes represent the earth

- Line down the middle that separates the WESTERN HEMISPHERE from the EASTERN HEMISPHERE
- We live in the Western Hemisphere

- Shows cardinal direction
- N = North
- W = West
- E = East
- S = South
- NW, NE, SW, SE = up-down directions always first, left-right directions always second
- Omaha is in the eastern part of Nebraska

- 7 Continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia
- Asia is the biggest continent.   Africa is the second biggest.  Australia is the smallest. 
- THEY ARE NOT COUNTRIES. 
- Countries exist within continents
- Separated by land and ocean

- 4 Oceans
- Arctic, Indian, Pacific, Atlantic
- The Pacific Ocean is the biggest

- Latitude lines/ horizontal lines
- Invisible (not seen)
- Helps predict climate
- Countries closest to the Equator are VERY HOT

- There is no center
- Maps show what the map-maker wants it to show