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Grade 8 Geography Notes Term 1

The document outlines a curriculum for Term 1, focusing on map scales, distance calculations, and the use of latitude and longitude. It explains different types of scales (word, line, and ratio), how to calculate distances using these scales, and the importance of latitude and longitude in locating places on maps. Additionally, it provides instructions on using an atlas index to find geographic locations accurately.

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marilluwilliams
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106 views5 pages

Grade 8 Geography Notes Term 1

The document outlines a curriculum for Term 1, focusing on map scales, distance calculations, and the use of latitude and longitude. It explains different types of scales (word, line, and ratio), how to calculate distances using these scales, and the importance of latitude and longitude in locating places on maps. Additionally, it provides instructions on using an atlas index to find geographic locations accurately.

Uploaded by

marilluwilliams
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Term 1

Week 1: Revision of Grade 7 content of scales.

Week 2

Kinds of scale in an atlas (world, regional, local).

25 January 2024

The maps in an atlas show different sizes of land and will therefore have different scales. The size of
the area covered by the map influences the map scale. The larger the area covered by the map, the
smaller the map scale.

Maps are drawn to scale. Ground distances can be calculated between features or places on a map.
The scale provided on the map is the key to calculate ground distance.

The most important scales in atlases are ratio and line scales.

1.Word Scale

Uses a statement in words to describe the scale of the map, for example: “One centimetre on the
map represents 50 kilometres on the ground”.

2. Line Scale

The line scale shows the distance on the map compared to the distance on the ground. The line scale
is usually marked in equal sections. Line scales can be confusing because they compare different
measurements, for example a line scale may compare centimetres on the map with kilometres on
the ground.

3. Ration Scale/Number Scale

Ratio scales compares distances on the map to distances on the ground in the same measurements.
We use the symbol : to show the ratio between the measurements on the map and the
measurements on the ground, for example: 1: 10 000. This means that one unit of measurement on
the map represents 10 000 millimetres on the ground. And one centimetre on the map represents
10 000 centimetres on the ground. The ratio stays the same 1: 10 000.
Week 3

Calculate distances between settlements (global and South Africa) using different scales.

29 January 2024

Maps with very large scales are not found in atlases, such as Topographic maps. They have very large
scales. For example, 1:10 000 and 1: 50 000.

The difference between a small-scale map and a large-scale map:

Large Scale Small Scale


Features appear larger and are more detailed. Features are less detailed.
It represents ground distance on local maps. It represents ground distances on world and
regional maps.

1. How to calculate distances using ratio scale on a map:

1. Identify the two places on the map you want to find the distance between.

2. Measure the distance between the two places on the map.

3. Write down the map distance, for example: 3cm.

4. Look at the ratio scale of the map, for example: 1: 50 000.

5. Multiply the measured distance by the scale factor “50 000” if the scale is 1: 50 000.

6. To convert your answer to kilometres, divide by 100 000. If you want to convert to metres divide
by 100.

For example:

The map distance between Pelican Park High School and the shopping centre is 1,6 cm.

1,6 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 50 000
a)
100 000

= 0,8 km (In Kilometres)

1,6 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 50 000
b)
100
= 800 m (In Metres)
OR
1,6 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 50 000
100 000
= 0,8 km
= 0,8 km x 1000
= 800 m (In Metres)

Calculation Activity
a)
2. How to calculate the distance using the line scale on a map:
Step 1: Find the two places/marks on the map.
Step 2: On a loose piece of paper make two dots on each place/mark.
Step 3: Take these two dots to the line scale (first to the km side, from 0)
Step 4: Write your answer down in km first in your book and make a third dot after the last
full km.
Step 5: Take the remaining piece/distance between the second and third dot to the line
scale (on the metres side).
Step 6: Count how many blocks the remaining piece/distance fits into, (each block = 100
metres) and write down your answer.
Step 7: Convert your answer in metres to kilometres (÷1000).
Step 8: Add the two kilometres together to get your final answer in km.

NOTE: If the two dots fit into the kilometres and there’s no remaining piece/distance left
then you do not need to do any further calculations.
Week 4
Latitude and Longitude – degrees and minutes. Using the atlas index to find places on a
map.
5 February 2024

Latitude and Longitude


You should know from primary school that lines of latitude go around the world from east to
west (side to side) and that longitude go around the world from north to south (top to
bottom).
1.Lines of latitude:
The equator is the line of 0° latitude and is the starting point for measuring latitude. The
latitude of the North Pole is 90° N and that of the South Pole is 90°S.
Each line of latitude between the equator and the poles run parallel to each other and has a
value in degrees. The angle of each line of latitude is measured from an imaginary point in
the centre of the earth.
Two other important lines of latitude which will be dealt with later is the Tropic of Cancer
1 1
which lies at 23 2 ° N and the Tropic of Capricorn which lies 23 2 ° S.

2. Lines of longitude:
Lines of longitude run through both the North and South Poles. They are not parallel lines.
They are often referred to as meridians. Earth is divided equally into 360° of longitude.
The most important line of longitude is the Greenwich Meridian. This is the meridian from
where the world time zones are calculated. The Greenwich Meridian is also called the Prime
Meridian and is the 0° line of longitude.

THEREFORE, the earth is divided into different hemispheres. Places North and South of the
Equator and places East and West of the Greenwich Meridian. America, for example, is
North of the Equator but West of the Greenwich.

Degrees and minutes:


Lines of latitude and longitude on the globe and maps make it easier to find places. Each line
has a value in degrees. A degree of longitude at the equator covers about 111km. One
degree of latitude also covers about 111km. Each degree of latitude and longitude can be
divided into 60 minutes. By using degrees and minutes, we can pinpoint places to within less
than 2 km of accuracy. We do not show minutes on most maps because this would cover
the map with too many lines. We usually need to estimate where the lines will be.
Using the atlas index to find places on a map:
At the back of an atlas, you will find an atlas index. A good atlas index lists most of the
place’s names in the atlas. The names are in alphabetical order. Next to each place’s name
are the latitude and longitude coordinates in degrees and minutes.

How to use the index of an atlas:


a) Look up the name of the place you want to find in the index. Go to the correct part of the
alphabetical index: for example, Port Elizabeth is in the P section.
b) Write down the coordinates that are next to the name Port Elizabeth - 33°55’S, 25°25’E.
c) Go to the correct page in the atlas indicated in the index, e.g. page 42.
d) Look for 33- and 34-degree lines of latitude.
e) Because minutes are not marked on maps, you must estimate where 55 minutes will be.
You will have to estimate that this will be between the 33- and 34-degree lines of latitude.
55 minutes is almost 60 minutes. 60 minutes is one degree. You can see that 33°55’ line of
latitude is very close to the 34° line of latitude.
f) Now estimate Post Elizabeth’s longitude position - 25°35’ E. Because you know that there
are 60 minutes in a degree, you know that there will be 30 minutes in half a degree. So, 35
minutes will be just over halfway between 25° and 26° east.
NB!!! Give the degree first, then the minutes. Start with latitude first then the longitude.
___________________________________________________________________________

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