Download The Social Studies Praxis Geography

The Social Studies Praxis
Geography
Maps & Mapping
Meridians and Parallels
The earth spins around an axis (23 ½ degrees) that extends between the
North and South poles. The poles are the anchor points for the
geographical coordinate system of latitude and longitude
Longitude designates distance E or W from the Prime Meridian that
runs through Greenwich, UK.
Latitude designates distance N or S from the equator, a line around
the earth halfway between the poles.
Latitude:
Angular
distance
N or S
of
Equator
Latitude – Angular Distance from the Equator
Time Zones & the International
Date Line
International Date Line – 180 degrees opposite the
Prime Meridian & the line at which the day
changes upon crossing
Map Projections
ƒ What is a map projection and what kinds
of decisions does it force mapmakers to
make?
Map Projections
Map projections are attempts to portray
the surface of the earth or a portion of
the earth on a flat surface. Some
distortions of shape, distance,
direction, scale, and area always result
from this process.
ƒ The purpose, or function of the map,
determines what projection should be used
ƒ The geographic location determines what
projection should be used
•Mercator
•The Mercator projection has straight meridians and parallels
that intersect at right angles. Scale is true at the equator or at
two standard parallels equidistant from the equator. The
projection is often used for marine navigation because all
straight lines on the map are lines of constant compass bearing.
The Mercator is not good for
geographic education purposes
•Peters Projection
•The Peters projection is a cylindrical equal-area projection
that de-emphasizes area exaggerations in high latitudes. It
preserves the size of land masses correctly, but distorts shape
Goode’s Interrupted Homolosine Projection
•Scale
•Scale is the relationship between a distance portrayed
on a map and the same distance on the Earth.
Graphic (Bar) Scale
Representative Fraction
= the ratio of distance
on the map to distance
on the earth
Topographic
Contour Map
Contour Interval =
20 feet
Contour lines
connect all points
of the same
elevation. On this
particular map,
there are 20 feet
between each line
(the Contour
Interval).
Likewise, an isotherm is a line of equal or constant temperature
on a graph, plot, or map;
World Regions can be
described by physical (climate),
economic (NAFTA or the
European Union), political, or
other patterns
Climate Regions
World Regions
ƒ What is the primary categorization of the
following regions, and why?
Latin America
ƒ Composed of
similar
cultural
(language &
religion) and
historical
patterns
Caribbean
North Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa
ƒ North Africa
has different
religious,
language, and
racial
characteristics
than SubSaharan Africa
ƒ North Africa is
mostly Islamic
Middle East & Arab World*
ƒ *The Arab
World is a
subset of the
Middle East
ƒ This region is
also
predominantly
Muslim and
has strong ties
to North Africa
Western Europe
Countries West of
the former “Iron
Curtain”
Eastern Europe
Countries east of
the former “Iron
Curtain” and those
formerly part of the
Soviet Union
East Asia –
the
Northern
part of
Eastern
Asia (China,
Taiwan,
Japan,
Korea)
Southeast
Asia
Central Asia – the “Stan Countries”
Oceania
North America
The 4 Oceans
Major “Seas” of the World
Basic Physical Geography
ƒ What creates seasonal climate?
ƒ Tilt of the earth’s axis (23 ½ degrees)
Other Influences on Climate
ƒ Air flow patterns & the global air circulation
system (high and low pressure systems)
ƒ Elevation
What is the Difference Between
Weather & Climate?
ƒ Weather is short-term: the physical state
of the atmosphere at a given time and
place
ƒ Climate is long-term, based on statistics of
a long record
How do Earthquakes Create
Mountain Ranges?
ƒ Collision of Continental Plates at fault zones
What Physical Systems led to the
Creation of the Grand Canyon?
ƒ Erosion
by the
Colorado
River,
combined
with uplift
of the
western
half of the
continent
Grand
Canyon
What Physical Systems led to the
Creation of the Yosemite Valley?
ƒ Primarily
Glaciation
events –
glaciers
chiseling
away at the
surface
below them
and carving
valleys
U.S. Population Geography
ƒ Growth in the first half of the 20th Century took
place in the “Continental Core” of the Industrial
East and California
ƒ Currently the most rapid growth is taking place
in the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountain
West, and the South
ƒ Economic Changes (the industrial East has been referred to
as the “Rust Belt,” and the agricultural Midwest and Great
Plains continue to lose population
ƒ People wanting to live in warm and/or scenic areas with lots
of natural amenities
Population
U.S. Immigration
ƒ Throughout most of U.S. history, migration
policies and migration itself was focused
on European immigrants
ƒ Today the majority of U.S. immigrants are
from Asia & Latin America
ƒ Hispanic people are now the largest
minority population in the U.S. (about
12%), just recently passing African
Americans