Skillz
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The document provides guidance on interpreting maps and GIS for a GCSE exam, including how to measure distances and grid references, interpret contours and relief, identify features from aerial photographs, and describe the site and situation of settlements. It emphasizes supporting descriptions with clear evidence from the map, such as grid references, transportation networks, vegetation patterns, and the distribution and shapes of settlements. The document also includes sample exam questions testing these map skills.
Skillz
- 1. What up dawg! This Powerpoint is like, down wiv the kids innit! I know its not cool….i don’t need you to be here to tell me its not funny….i will stop now…totes inapprops… :D
- 2. GIS – Geographical Information SystemsGIS – Geographical Information Systems
- 3. Why is GIS useful?Why is GIS useful? Think about all the things you can use google maps for. It has options for: • Weather – useful to builders working outdoors • Traffic – great for taxi services, delivery firms to know how long a journey will take them. • Photographs – useful for tourists to see the area they are visiting before they go. The police layer crimes onto maps to show where the most crime is taking place. Then CCTV cameras can be installed and police officers will aim to visit these areas more regularly.
- 4. SketchesSketches • The exam board are not expecting you to be excellent artists. • Sketches do not need to be perfect drawings however they must be tidy, accurate and the main features must have been clearly identified. • Label all the features on your diagram and make sure your sketch is suitably titled. • If appropriate annotate your sketch with longer phrases and descriptive comments. • To keep your sketch clear, write your labels around the edge of the sketch and draw arrows to the features they describe.
- 5. Exam PracticeExam Practice Using a sketch, explain why the location in photograph A is a popular tourist destination.
- 6. Maps – measuring straight line distanceMaps – measuring straight line distance • The scale of a map allows a reader to calculate the size, height and dimensions of the features shown on the map, as well as distances between different points. • The maps you will be using in your GCSE exam will have a scale of 1:50,000, i.e. 1 cm on the map represents 500 metres or 0.5 kilometres). • If you are required to work out the straight line distance (as the crow flies) between two places, simply place your ruler over both points and measure the distance in-between, then convert into kilometres by multiplying your answer by 0.5, i.e. 7 centimetres on the map equals 3.5km in real life.
- 7. Maps – measuring winding distancesMaps – measuring winding distances • If you have been asked to workout the distance of a winding route (e.g. a river or road) get a sheet of paper (or even the side of your exam) and place the corner on your starting point. • Rotate your paper until the side follows the route you want to take. When the route bends away from the paper’s edge, mark the point on your sheet and then turn the paper so that the side runs along the next part of your path (1). • Keep doing this until you reach the end of your route (2). • Now place your paper against the scale line (3) or measure the distance using a ruler and multiply by 0.5. 1 2 3
- 8. Maps – 4 figure grid references • Ordnance Survey map are covered in a series of blue grid lines. These grid lines can be used to pinpoint locations through a unique number known as a grid reference. • A four-figure grid reference is a handy way of identifying any square on a map. Four figure references are useful if you’re trying to describe the position of a large feature such as a forest or settlement. • Grid references are easy, as long as you remember that you always go along the corridor before you go up the stairs.
- 9. Maps – 6 figure grid references • If you want to pinpoint an exact place on a map, such as a church or farm building, then you will need to use a six- figure grid reference. • The first step is to find the four-figure reference, now imagine this square is divided up into 10 tiny squares along the bottom, with 10 squares up the side. • Still remembering to go along the corridor and then up the stairs, estimate how far across and then up the square the feature is.
- 10. Relief (height of the land) and contoursRelief (height of the land) and contours • Relief is a term geographers use to describe the shape and height of the land. • OS maps use two systems to illustrate relief, spot heights or trig points and contour lines. Spot Height Trig Point Contours close together = very steep Contours further apart = less steep
- 11. Relief (height of the land) and ContoursRelief (height of the land) and Contours • A contour is a line drawn on a map that joins points of equal height above sea level, i.e. every point on a 50 metre contour line is 50 metres above sea level. • Contours on OS maps are coloured light brown. The diagram shows the link between the shape of a hill and the contours representing it on a map.
- 12. How to draw a cross sectionHow to draw a cross section • Place the edge of a piece of paper along the route you wish to draw a cross section of. • Mark each time your paper crosses a contour line and record its height. • Place you’re paper on a piece of graph paper and draw a vertical scale. Each time your paper crossed a contour line plot the correct height. • Join up the crosses with a line to show the shape and height of the land. • You may be asked to add the location of important features such as rivers or roads.
- 14. ExamExam PracticePractice Print off the map and then try to answer the questions on the next slide. On GCSE exams the top of the paper is always north.
- 15. Exam PracticeExam Practice 1. From Morris Fm (612182) what direct is it to: a) Manor House (621172) b) White House (605176) 2. Which of the following grid squares have the steepest terrain? a) 5919 or 6217 b) 6120 or 6219 3. Which is the six figure grid reference of: a) the church in Cowling b) the church in Heapey 4. How far is it form the Manor House to Morris Farm: a) as the crow flies b) along the road 5. Draw a cross section from White Coppice (616189) to the summit of Hurst Hill (630180).
- 16. Interpreting MapsInterpreting Maps The key to success on a describe question is to support general descriptive statements with map evidence. What to look for when describing: • Vegetation - The OS maps used in our exam (1:50,000) only contains a minimal amount of vegetation data. Woods, orchards, parkland and marshes are shown, but most of the map is likely to be white. In most cases these white areas will be farmland, look for the presence of farms (abbreviated to fm) to prove this. • When identifying large areas, such a forest, use four-figure grid references, however, more accurate six figure references will be needed if you’re highlighting farm buildings.
- 17. Interpreting MapsInterpreting Maps The key to success on a describe question is to support general descriptive statements with map evidence. What to look for when describing: • Communication – In your exam, communication refers to the region’s transport networks. Look out for important routes, such as dual carriageways and motorways, as well as local patterns. In most cases road and rail networks will be denser and more complex in urban areas. • When describing communication networks use road names (e.g. M4 or B3456), locate larger areas with four-figure references and individual stations and foci points with six- figure references.
- 18. Interpreting MapsInterpreting Maps The key to success on a describe question is to support general descriptive statements with map evidence. What to look for when describing: • Settlements – If asked to describe the distribution of settlements, try and think of each settlement as a just dot. Include villages, towns and cities but ignore minor hamlets and farmhouse clusters, as we don’t want to over- complicate our answer. • Now look at the pattern of dots and try to identify any relating factors. Settlements are usually grouped in river valleys, on coastlines or along transport routes. Don’t forget to support any explanation with map evidence.
- 19. Interpreting MapsInterpreting Maps The key to success on a describe question is to support general descriptive statements with map evidence. What to look for when describing: • Human activities – OS maps provide little information about human activity. Occasionally works and industrial sites are labelled, but in most cases we have to make educated guesses about the economic activities present within a region, e.g. we know from experience that large towns and cities tend to have important retail and commercial functions. • Tourism is perhaps the easiest economic activity to identify as attractions and facilities are clearly highlighted through the use of blue symbols.
- 20. Site and SituationSite and Situation • The SITE of a settlement means the physical characteristics of the place. When describing the site refer to slope, attitude and vegetation. Shepton Mallet is built on the south facing slops of the Mendip Hills. There is an area of drained marsh land to the south known as the Somerset Levels. The town itself is built gently sloping land and is surrounded by fertile land used for sheep farming. • The SITUATION of a settlement is its location in relation to other places. When describing the situation refer to transport links and the position of other settlements. Shepton Mallet is situated approximately 3 miles East of Wells and is approximately 30 miles south of the larger city of Bristol. Shepton Mallet is build around the cross roads of the A37 and the A361.
- 21. Shape of SettlementsShape of Settlements • 1. Nucleated settlements are villages and towns where the buildings are closely clustered, usually around a central feature such as a village green, crossroads or market square. • 2. Linear settlements are strung out in a thin line, often following a road or squeezed into a narrow valley. • 3. Dispersed villages are made up of small groups of houses and outlying farmers spread over a considerable distance.
- 22. ExamExam PracticePractice 1. Describe Lytham’s transport network. (4 marks) 2. What evidence is there to suggest that Lytham is a popular tourist destination? (3 marks) 3. Describe the site of Lytham. (3 marks) 4. Describe the vegetation cover in the area shown. (4 marks)