Chapter 1: The world of geography

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Chapter 1:

World of geography

• Section 1: What is geography?
• Section 2: Geographical maps
• Section 3: Global positioning
• Section 4: Working with an atlas

Section 1:

What is geography?

Learning goals 

1. What is meant by geography. 

2. Explain the difference between physical and human geography. 

3. The difference between a natural and a man-made landscape.

Geography studies the earth as place humans live and also the humans as residence of the earth.

The earth a livable planet

Why is the earth livable?

1.  The Earth has the correct distrance from the sun; the Earth has the correct temperature; not too hot and not too cold;
2. The Earth has water in a liquid form;
3. On Earth there is enough oxygen for us to breathe.

We can divide geography in two subjects:

Physical Geography

Studies the natural features and processes on the Earth's surface and inside the Earth.

Human Geography

Studies the activities of humans around the world.

Which topics belong to
physical geography?

Which topics belong to
human geography?

Landscapes

In geography we study landscapes; in general we have two types of landscapes:

1. Natural landscapes: a landscape formed by processes inside the Earth or on the Earth's surface without the influence of humans.
2. Man-made landscape: a landscape that is influenced by humans.

Give an example of a natural landscape on Earth

Section 2: 
Geographical maps

Learning goals:

1. Describe the function of maps; 

2. Describe different types of maps;

3. Explain the function of the legend, north arrow and the scale of maps;

4. Different types of map projections.

Maps have been used for navigation for centuries. Voyages of discovery made it possible to draw the map of the world we now today.

Every map contains four features:

1. Title: telling you what the map is about;
2. North arrow or compass rose: showing directions;
3. Legend: Explains the colours, symbols or letters used on a map;
4. Scale: Informs you about the size of the area on the map

Types of maps

Simplified maps give a summary of a large area

1. Political map showing shape and size of countries;

2. Physical map showing physical features.

Name the differences between a political and a physical map.

Types of maps

Informative maps

1. Thematic map: focusses on a specific theme or topic e.g. precipitation or population.

2. Topographic map: gives detailed information about a small area

Find online an example of a physical world map

Find online an example of a thematic map about the Netherlands

Section 3:
Global positioning

Learning goals:

1. Find a location on a map, using coordinates;

2. The difference between longitude and latitude; 

3. Explain the difference between the absolute distance and the relative distance;

4. The basics of the GPS. 

We use coordinates to determine a location on Earth.

For navigation we use imaginary vertical lines (called meridians) drawn from the North Pole to the South Pole and imaginary horizontal lines (called parellels). 

Meridians

Using meridians we can determine longitude. From the prime meridian (that runs through Greenwich near London) we have 180 degrees longitude east (E) en 180 degrees longitude west (W).

Parellels

With parellels you can determine the latitude of a place. 

The equator divides the earth in a Northern and Southern hemisphere.

The Netherlands are located on

1. Northern hemisphere
2. Southern hemisphere
3. Eastern longitude
4. Western longitude

Distance and location

Two types of distances:

- Absolute distance; actual distance between two places in a straight line; expressed in kilometres.

- Relative distance; distance expressed in time or effort.

Absolute distance can't change that fast, 

but relative distance can.

Section 4:

Working with an atlas

Learning goals
1. Find a map in the atlas using the page guide, table of contents and the index

2. Explain how to use the maps and charts in the atlas

An atlas is a book filled with different types of maps  an atlas contains simplified polical maps, but also very specific thematic ones (even about Starbucks and Ikea).

On school we use the
Grote Bosatlas 55th edition.

Grote Bosatlas

The Grote Bosatlas is named after Pieter Roelf Bos who printed his first atlas in 1877.

Because information on maps changes atlas change too.

Finding a map in the atlas

There are some useful tools to find a certain map in the atlas.

Copy the names of the tools you can use; explain how they are used, write the Dutch translation behind the explanation and add where you can find them in the atlas:

Main legend, table of contents, index, keyword index, bookmark.

US world map

European world map