Thank you to S. George for sharing.

1. SOCIAL STUDIES
GEOGRAPHY
KEY CONCEPTS
Created by S. George

2. GEOGRAPHY
DEFINITIONS

3. Map Key (Legend)
The part of a map
that explain what
the symbols on a map
stands for.

4. Map Symbol
A picture that is
used to stand for
something that is
real on the Earth.

5. Distance Scale
The scale on a map
that tells the real
distance.

6. Compass Rose
The direction marker
on a map.

7. Location
Where something can
be found.

8. Continent
One of the seven
main areas of land
on Earth.

9. equator
An imaginary line
that circles the Earth
halfway between the
North Pole and the
South Pole. The line
divides the Earth into
the Northern
Hemisphere and the
Southern Hemisphere.

10. North Pole
The northern end of
the Earth’s axis.

11. South Pole
The southern end of
the Earth’s axis.

12. latitude
The distance north
or south of the
equator; lines of
latitude are drawn in
an east-west
direction around the
globe.

13. longitude
The distance
between east and
west from the prime
meridian; lines of
longitude are drawn
in a north-south
direction around the
globe.

14. pictograph
A graph that uses
symbols or small
pictures to stand for
amounts of things.

15. Circle (pie) graph
A graph in the shape
Of a circle or pie.

16. Bar or line graph
A graph that uses
horizontal or
vertical lines to show
information.

17. landform
One of the shapes
that makes up the
Earth’s surface, such
as mountains, hills,
plateaus, or plains.

18. lake
A large body of
water surrounded by
by land.

19. Ocean
The body of salt
water that covers
nearly ¾ of the
Earth’s surface.

20. sea
A large body of
water in an ocean,
either partly or
completely
landlocked.

21. gulf
Part of an ocean that
reaches into the land
and is larger than a
bay.

22. waterway
A body of water that
is wide enough and
deep enough for
ships to travel.

23. river
A large natural
stream of water
that empties into
another large body
of water.

24. climate
The kind of weather
a place has over a
long period of time.

25. glacier
A large mass of ice
formed by the
melting and
refreezing of deep
snow.

26. earthquake
The shaking of the
Earth’s surface
caused by the
movement and
cracking of rock
deep inside the
Earth.

27. Human migration
Movements of groups
of people from one
place to another.

28. culture
The way of life of
people. Culture
includes traditions,
customs, language,
and education.

29. town/city
A large community
where people live
and work.

30. parish/county
A part of a state,
usually larger than a
city, which has its
own government.
Louisiana is the only
state that uses
parishes instead of
counties.

31. nation/country
A political region
with a single central
government.

32. rural
Of or like a country
region