Help! I Have Geography Homework!

Tisha Doppler

This webpage is a compilation of information designed for upper elementary and middle school students who have geography homework. However, anyone with an interest in maps and geography may enjoy looking around!

  • Some Definitions
  • Map Basics
  • What Should I Include In A Map?
  • Oops, I Forgot My Map Outlines at School...
  • History of Maps
  • Geography
  • Images and Maps in Space
  • Time
  • Other Good Stuff
  • Just For Fun
  • Resources in the Denver Area
  • Great Books
  • About This Webpage
    •

    Some Definitions

    What is a map?
    According to a conventional dictionary, a map is a representation usually on a flat surface of the whole or a part of an area
    (from Merriam-Webster OnLine,     www.m-w.com/dictionary/map).

    What is geography?
    According to a conventional dictionary, geography is a science that deals with the description, distribution,
    and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface
    (from Merriam-Webster OnLine, www.m-w.com/dictionary/geography).

    What is Geographic Information System (GIS)?
    According to The Guide to Geographic Information Systems, www.gis.com/whatisgis/index.html,
    GIS is a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing
    and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. Or, more simply, a GIS combines
    layers of information about a place to give you a better understanding of that place
    (from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, www.nww.usace.army.mil/gis/definition.htm).

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    Map Basics


    World image retrieved 4/24/07 from
    www.traveldir.org/ and
    www.traveldir.org/images/world/world_map_political.jpg

    What are maps, and how do you read them?
    Visit the United States Geologic Survey (USGS) website, What Do Maps Show?
    at interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow.htm to learn
    more from the greatest mapmakers in the United States.

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    What Should I Include In A Map?

    How do I get started on my map homework?
    Just as a book has an author and a title page, a map has similar clues to help interpret and navigate it. Maps include place names, orientation markers to show north, creation and publication dates, mapmaker name, and legend. The legend is a type of glossary to help you understand what all those funny symbols mean on the map. One type of orientation marker, a compass rose, is shown to the right.

    Compass rose retrieved 4/24/07 from:
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_directions
    and upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/
    thumb/3/39/CompassRose16.png/300px-CompassRose16.png

    An easy way to remember what to include on a map is T.O.D.A.L., which means...

    T=Title

    O=Orientation (compass rose)

    D=Date (that the map was made/revised)

    A=Author (for point of view purposes)

    L=Legend (or Key)

    add in S.I.G...

    S=Scale

    I=Index

    G=Grid (alpha-numeric)

    and you have the essentials you need to make a map!
    Let us review... Actual techniques to make a map include...

    1. Label all features with a a pencil

    2. Outline pencil lines with an ultra-fine tipped black sharpie marker

    3. Color code: figure out which colors to use for each feature and color in your map using colored pencils!

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    Oops, I Forgot My Map Outlines At School!

    Has this ever happened to you?!

  • For a map outline of a country, visit Country Map Outlines
    at     geography.about.com/library/blank/blxindex.htm.
  • For a map outline of the whole U.S. or an individual state, visit United States Outlines
    at geography.about.com/library/blank/blxusa.htm.

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    History of Maps
    Map retrieved 4/24/07 from
    www.loc.gov/wiseguide/dec02/maps.html and
    www.loc.gov/wiseguide/dec02/images/photo01-maps.jpg

    Do you think maps were invented by MapQuest?
    Visit a university course lecture by James Aber on
    the Brief History of Maps and Cartography
    at academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/map/h_map/h_map.htm,
    to read a fascinating account.

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    Geography

    Where do I go if I want to know...

  • What is the 3rd longest river in the world?
    Go to Social Studies for Kids: Geography
    at     www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/geography.htm to find out!

  • What is the length of the border between Alaska and Canada?
    Or the central point of Colorado?
    Find out at Elevations and Distances in the U.S.
    at erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html.

  • Where to find the Ouachita Mountains?
    Visit Place Names Gazetteer
    at www.placenames.com for U.S. names.

  • How to spell a landform?
    If you think it may be "Aires Rock", but you're just not sure...
    visit The Fuzzy Gazetteer at tomcat-dmaweb1.jrc.it/fuzzyg/query/
    to see how to spell it right.

  • Something about another culture?
    Visit the Internet Public Library Geography and World Culture Page
    at www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/browse/owd5000/ for great information.

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    Images and Maps in Space

    Satellite image
    retrieved 4/24/07
    from www.nasa.gov/
    externalflash/NASA45/
    19/19image.html

    Need images from our Solar System?
    Visit Welcome to the Planets at pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/.

    Do you want to look at maps of Venus, Earth, Mars or Jupiter?
    Visit the USGS site of Planetary Maps
    at geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/docs/wrgis/astro.html
    (be patient, it takes a while to load).

    And what does the Earth look like from space?
    Check out Our Earth as Art at earthasart.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.htm.

    View live Landsat images at the USGS site EarthNow!,
    earthnow.usgs.gov/earthnow.html.

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    Time


    Time Zone globe retrieved 4/24/07 from
    www.gizoo.co.uk/Products/HomeGarden/
    Home/worldtimeGlobeClock.htm

    Does anybody really know what time it is?
    Visit Official U.S. Time at www.time.gov.

    So where are all the time zone boundary lines?
    Visit Standard Time Zones of the World
    www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_maps/time_zone_world_98.jpg    .

    Just what and where is the Prime Meridian?
    Learn more about it at The Prime Meridian website www.greenwich-guide.org.uk/meridian.htm.
    Or you can visit Greenwich like I did to learn more in person!
    Photo by Steve Doppler, taken
    March 31, 2007 in Greenwich, England
    on a VERY windy day!

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    Other Good Stuff

    Where can you find the largest earth science library in the world?
    At the largest earth science agency - the United States Geological Survey - of course!

    You can access the USGS Library online at
    library.usgs.gov to find all kinds of great maps and geographic information.

    If you need help finding more answers,
    check out their Ask a Librarian service at library.usgs.gov/ext_request.html.

    Just where IS the North Pole?
    Visit Where are the Earth's magnetic poles?
    at www.windows.ucar.edu/spaceweather/location_mag_poles.html.

    Where are some of the places in the news?
    Visit Online Maps of Current Interest
    at www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html/ to learn more.

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    Just For Fun

    Do you want to find something your geography teacher may not know?
    Spend some time at Browse The World with Mr. Dowling,
    www.mrdowling.com and you're sure to find something to amaze your teacher!

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    Resources in the Denver Area


    Map retrieved
    4/24/07 from:
    www.buyerbroker-
    denver.com/areas.html
    In the Denver, Colorado metro area, visit the local libraries to see
    topographic maps, atlases, and more:

  • Jefferson County Public Library
    (sable.jefferson.lib.co.us/search/?searchtype=
    d&searcharg=maps&SORT=&searchscope=9)    ,

  • United States Geological Survey (USGS) Library (geology.cr.usgs.gov/crg/library.htm) in Lakewood

  • Arthur Lakes Library at Colorado School of Mines
    www.mines.edu/library/maproom/ in Golden.

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    Great Books
    Image retrieved 4/24/07 from
    www.wvpl.org/WVPLWeb/programs/
    program_content/great_books/great_books.htm

    Think about reading the resources listed below, or browse other resources available online at the
    Jefferson County Public Library jefferson.lib.co.us. You can put them on hold and pick them up
    at your nearest library jefferson.lib.co.us/locations, or you can call to have a librarian help you.

  • Baber, Maxwell. (2007) Map basics.
    Chicago, Ill.: Heinemann Library.
  • Buckley, Susan Washburn. (2006) Journeys for freedom: a new look at America's story.
    Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
  • Hayes, Derek. (2007) Historical atlas of the United States: with original maps.
    Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
  • National Geographic Society (U.S.). (2005) National Geographic student atlas of the world.
    Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.
  • Olesky, Walter G. (2002) Maps in history.
    New York: Franklin Watts.
  • Ross, Val. (2003) The Road to There: Mapmakers and Their Stories.
    Toronto: Tundra Books.

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    Image Reference

  • Turning world retrieved 4/24/07 from www.heartlands.co.nz/outdoor_heaters.htm
    and www.heartlands.co.nz/images/world_turning.gif.

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    About This Webpage

    This webpage project was created for a course on map librarianship, (academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/gis), from the School of Library and Information Management (www.slim.emporia.edu/), at Emporia State University, (www.emporia.edu), in the Spring 2007 semester. The assignment was to learn webpage creation, as well as present a summary of our knowledge about Map Librarianship as applied to a topic of interest. Every effort has been made to ensure valid information, but as with any online material, addresses may change and the accuracy of information should be determined by you. Comments or questions? Contact Tisha Doppler at ldoppler@stumail.emporia.edu.

    This webpage, academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/gis/students/doppler was created April, 2007. Last update was May 16, 2007. For more student projects, visit academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/gis/students/students.htm.