Geography 417: California For Educators

Geography Lab: Introduction to the Geographic Grid  

Geography Lab: Using the Geographic Grid System

Before you Start: It's always a good idea to print a copy of this exercise out first.  Then you can pencil  in your answers on the paper copy as you go through the assignment.  Should your internet connection fail, then you won't have to start over.  Also, you'll have a 'hard copy' as proof you did the assignment.  When you want to enter your answers, remember to press TAB after you have typed in a response.  You can also use your mouse to move to the next response box.  DO NOT press enter until you are finished.  Once you press Enter or click the Submit button below, you will be redirected to a page that displays your answers.  It's a good idea to keep a copy of this as well.

Background.  The state of California requires 4th graders to be able to:

This is not difficult, but it is imperative that you master these basic skills and that you understand the logic behind the geographic grid well enough to effectively teach your pupils how to use the grid system.  This exercise is designed to either introduce you to these concepts or refresh your memory.   Other courses, such as Introduction to Physical Geography or World Regional Geography should perhaps offer a more in-depth look at the geographic grid and how to make use of it.

In order to read many maps effectively you need to understand how the geographic coordinate system works.  As important, you need to understand many of the concepts below to understand other common geographic notions.

It might be best to peruse the wikipedia entry on the geographic coordinate system first to refresh your memory.  Then answer the questions below to check to see if you understood what you read.

Part I:  Vocabulary and Fundamentals

Fill in the blank:

1.  is the basic point (or line) of reference for all lines of latitude.  How far north and south are measured as an angle from this.

2.  If you were to say you were 15 degrees west of New York City, you would need to reference your position with a line of .

3.  The spot in the Northern hemisphere where all lines of longitude converge is called the . This spot is 90 degrees north latitude.

4.  The runs through Greenwich Observatory in England and is neither East nor West, but 0 degrees longitude.

5.  Another name for lines of longitude are .

6.  The largest number for degrees of longitude is degrees latitude.

7.  The wiki article notes that there are several means to subdivide degrees (to render a more precise location).  Two formats they mention (DM and DMS)divide degrees into minutes as you would hours into minutes (by 60)...and divide the minutes into seconds.  So half a 39 and a half degrees would be 39 degrees, 30 minutes (and no seconds).  The other system called decimal degrees (DD) , is most common and divides degree units using a 10/100/1000 base system. 
So in decimal degrees (DD) 39 degrees, 30 minutes would be written instead as:

Part II: Application to California

In this part of the exercise, you will be asked to identify several locations by using the coordinate on a map and in turn finding several locations using coordinates.

First, open the link below in a new window.  If your browser is set to automatically resize large images (like this one), then wait a moment and look for a resize button to appear in the lower right hand corner of the map.  Then click on it to see the whole map.  Click on it again to resize.

Map of Los Angeles

 Answer the next two questions:

8.  What city lies very close to 34 degrees north and 118 degrees, 30 minutes west (or 34.0, 118.3) ? 

9.  What is the approximate latitude for Hidden Hills?

Most mapping is done by computers now and there a number of very good websites dedicated to helping you find coordinates.  I urge you to check out and download Google Earth, but for now you need to open in a new browser window The U.S. Census web page.  This page is a portal to a bonanza of primary source data used by social scientists and historians.   There are many dozens of classroom lesson possibilities here.

First, click on the word Geography near the middle of the page.  Then click on Maps and Mapping Resources.  Next, click on ON-LINE MAPPING.  Finally, you'll come to the Tiger Map Server

 Once you're at the Tiger Map Server page, you'll notice that the default map is of Washington D.C.  In order to map something more local, like Burbank, California, you must click on the words New Location.  That will direct you to a page where you can enter any US town or city name and the application will map it. 

In the response box next to Name: type in Burbank and in the State box, type in CA.  Click on the Search button.  Several options will appear on the page that is generated.  Burbank is a cdp (census designated place) and county subdivision and a city.  Click on the word Map to browse a map of Burbank. 

A map will draw and a load of options for displaying the map will appear on the right.   The list of map layers that you can add to the map includes Grid (lat/long).  Click on the little box under the word ON and to the left of the word GRID.  Then click on the Redraw Map button. Answer the following questions:

10.  What is the latitude and longitude for Burbank, according to the US Census Bureau. Enter it : Latitude, Longitude 

11.  What is the latitude and longitude for Lewiston, California?

Bonus: What system does the US Census use to report latitude and longitude? DD, DM or DMS

 

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If you have questions or comments, please contact me at steve.graves@csun.edu