CONTENT STATEMENT
- Latitude and longitude can be used to make observations about location and generalizations about climate.
CONTENT ELABORATION
Locations on Earth’s surface are identified using lines of latitude and longitude. Latitude and longitude can be used to make generalizations about climate, including:
- location relative to the equator;
- bodies of water; and
- mountains.
This introduction to latitude and longitude serves as a foundation for identifying absolute location in grade six.
Longitude describes a point’s position on the Earth’s surface in relation to the prime meridian. Meridians of longitude are imaginary half circles that run between the geographic North and South Poles.
Latitude describes a point’s position on the Earth’s surface in relation to the equator. Imaginary circles called parallels of latitude run around Earth parallel to the equator.
Location describes the point on the Earth’s surface that is expressed on a grid (absolute) or in relation (relative) to the position of other places. Climate describes long-term trends in weather elements and atmospheric conditions.
As students make observations about location and generalizations about climate, they learn to identify geographic points and imaginary lines on maps and globes, including:
- Equator;
- Arctic Circle;
- Antarctic Circle;
- North Pole;
- South Pole; and
- Prime Meridian.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Use location to make generalizations about climate.