Grade 7 | Lesson 5

Social Sciences

Lesson Overview

Geography

• Hemispheres

Activating Geography

Geography

In your first four lessons, the focus was on the physical geography of North America, which is one major part of this broad subject. Over your next series of lessons you'll study an entirely different are of geography, which is maps. In this lesson it'll be hemispheres.

Hemispheres
A globe is divided into hemispheres of "half spheres.’" Imaginary lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole called meridians. Meridians signify longitude with the Prime Meridian running through parts of England, France, and western Africa. The meridians to the east of this line are read as 40 degrees E. The meridians to the west of this line are read as 20 degrees W.

Research It!
Do you know anyone who has been to the Eastern Hemisphere?

Imaginary lines run around the earth called parallels. Parallels signify latitude with the Equator running around the middle of the earth. Lines to the north of the equator are read as 40 degrees N. Lines to the south of the equator are read as 59 degrees S.

These lines form a grid system that allows us to find any place on the earth if we know its latitude and longitude.

Research It!
When, why and by who was the Prime Meridian established? How about the equator?

Activating Geography

In your atlas, find the latitude and longitude of your city, of a city you would like to visit and of a city where a friend lives, which are called absolute locations. Next, find the Prime Meridian and name the cities from north to south that sit close to the prime. Finally, find the Equator and name the cities that sit close to it.

If you still haven't found an atlas, here is a great link: Your Atlas