Chapter 1
Finding Your
Way
Social Studies Grade 8

Finding Location Using Latitude
and Longitude
Many of the ways that we use to find
places are based on these imaginary
lines on the surface of the
earth. are drawn
east-west to show distances north or
south of the equator (0°). The
greatest distances are to the North
Pole (90°N) or to the South Pole
(90°S). Each line of latitude runs
parallel to the Equator, all around the
world.
Latitude
Lines of latitude

Finding Location Using Latitude
and Longitude
The are drawn
north-south from pole to pole to show
distances east or west of the Prime
Meridian (0°), which passes through
Greenwich, England. The greatest distance
is on the opposite side of the globe, in the
Mid-Pacific, at 180°, travelling either east or
west from the Prime Meridian. Every line
of longitude runs straight from the North
Pole to the South Pole.
Lines of Longitude

Finding Location Using Latitude
and Longitude
Latitude and longitude lines intersect to make up a set of
to indicate the of any point
on the earth’s surface. For example, the absolute
location of the rescue centre in St. John’s,Newfoundland
is 47°35’N, 52°40’W. The of a place is not
as precise, but it gives you the general area in which a
place is located. Relative location is usually described in
terms of distance or direction from another place.
Halifax, for example, is a Canadian port city centrally
located on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia.
Online activity
coordinates absolute location
relative position

Exercise
Atlas page 20-21
1. What are the places located at the following
coordinates:
a) 500N, 1260W
b) 580N, 940W
c) 460N, 650W
d) 640N, 1390W
2. What are the coordinates of the following places:
a) Montréal
b) Edmonton
c) Watson Lake
d) Vancouver
Campbell River
Churchill
Moncton
Dawson
460N, 740W
540N, 1140W
600N, 1280W
490N, 1230W

Practice Exercise #2
Atlas page 26-27 (copy the questions)
1. What places are at the following coordinates:
a) 110N, 620W
b) 140N, 910W
c) 80N, 790W
2. Find the coordinates of the following places:
a) Caracas
b) Mérida
c) Santo Domingo

Practice Exercise #2
Atlas page 46
1. What places are at the following coordinates:
a) 110N, 620W
b) 140N, 910W
c) 80N, 790W
2. Find the coordinates of the following places:
a) Caracas
b) Mérida
c) Santo Domingo
Port of Spain
Guatemala City
Panama
110N, 670W
220N, 890W
180N, 700W

Homework Soc. Studies #2 Europe
1. Find the cities:
a) 430N, 130E
b) 580N, 170E
c) 560N, 370E
d) 530N, 20W
e) 380N, 90W
2. Find the coordinates:
a) Madrid
b) Baku
c) Berlin
d) Belfast
e) Athens

Finding Location with the Global
Positioning System (GPS)
Today, navigators use a variety of technologies, including the
to find their location. GPS
consists of a fleet of satellites that orbit the earth twice a day
to give the precise time and location of any place on earth. A
ship can use GPS to determine its latitude and longitude
quickly and accurately.
Video Video 1
Global Positioning System (GPS)

Finding Places From The Air:
Thanks to satellite
technology, it is possible to
obtain pictures of
enormous regions of the
earth. Satellites ortbiting
the earth about every 103
minutes at an altitude of
700 to 920 km can
photograph and area
measuring 185 km². In a
satellite image, we can see
both
characteristics of a region.
Physical and Cultural
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Features
• Physical:
Ex.
Cultural:
Ex.
Valleys, mountains,
forests, rivers, bays,
hills, etc.
Features such as river
valleys, occur as a
result of natural
forces.
features that are
man-made.
Farmland, populated
areas, highways and
roads, bridges,
buildings, etc.

Turn to page 10 in you Social Studies
textbook.
What differences do you see on this map
compared to others?

Finding Your Way with a
Topographic Map
Sometimes to study a small area we can use a
topographic map. To see the characteristics of a
topographic map see below or page 10 in your textbook.
• Physical features, such as vegetation, lakes, rivers, marsh, hills
and valleys.
• Cultural features, such as highways, bridges sports track,
buildings and built-up areas.
• The elevation, or height, of the land, through the use of
numbered contour lines.
• Location through the use of a grid and consisting of numbered
blue lines.
• Direction through use of the same grid.

Review
• What is the difference
between a topographic map
and a regular street map?

My Imaginary City
You are to create your own city map and include a name for your city.
Your map must have a grid with coordinates and a legend. You must
identify and name all streets as well as all of the following items:
- Bus stop - police station - school - airport - lake
- library - City Hall - bridge - 1 other (your choice)
- grocery store
- Fire station
- mall
- park
- Gas station
- church
- Post office
- Restaurant
- hospital

Rubric – Imaginary City
1 2 3
- Unfinished
- No colour
- No grid
- No legend
- No street names
- More than half of
required items
missing
- A little messy
- Half of requirements
- Half coloured, no
variety
- Only a few streets
named
- Partial grid, too
big/small
- Completely coloured
- Neat
- Labelled
- Legend on front
- Proper grid
- All required places
- All streets named
- Name of city

Exercise
Atlas page 72
1. What are the places located at the following
coordinates:
a) 490N, 740W
b) 510N, 1140W
c) 450N, 640W
d) 580N, 930W
e) 540N, 1300W
2. What are the coordinates of the following places:
a) Whitehorse
b) Edmonton
c) Watson Lake
d) Vancouver
Chibougamau
Calgary
Halifax
Churchill
Prince Rupert
620N, 1360W
530N, 1140W
600N, 1290W
490N, 1230W