gEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS
skill 1 - cartography (map) skills
SPECIFICATION LINK - Cartographic skills Cartographic skills relating to a variety of maps at different scales.
ATLAS MAPS
LATITUDE & LONGITUDE
“Lines of latitude and longitude are imaginary lines that you see on maps. They divide the world up so you can give an exact location. Latitude lines run from East to West (like the equator), and tell you how far North and South you are, but longitude lines go from North to South (like the Greenwich Meridian) and tell you how far East or West you are. They measure the angular position in degrees.”
“Lines of latitude and longitude are imaginary lines that you see on maps. They divide the world up so you can give an exact location. Latitude lines run from East to West (like the equator), and tell you how far North and South you are, but longitude lines go from North to South (like the Greenwich Meridian) and tell you how far East or West you are. They measure the angular position in degrees.”
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TYPES OF MAPS - HUMAN / PHYSICAL / RELIEF / TRANSPORT /
OS MAPS
You need to be confident using OS Maps at a range of different scales. You should be able to identify and describe both physical and human features on an OS Map, as well as using the key map skills outlined below. Look at the 'human activity' section below for an example of an OS Map. Many of you would of used them on your DofE expeditions.
You need to be confident using OS Maps at a range of different scales. You should be able to identify and describe both physical and human features on an OS Map, as well as using the key map skills outlined below. Look at the 'human activity' section below for an example of an OS Map. Many of you would of used them on your DofE expeditions.

Direction
Direction
Try to remember the main compass points by using a mnemonic, eg
Naughty Elephants Squirt Water - North East South West
Direction
Try to remember the main compass points by using a mnemonic, eg
Naughty Elephants Squirt Water - North East South West
- The four main points of the compass are north, east, south and west. Half way between each of these there are four other points: north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west. This makes an eight-point compass. There are a further eight points between these - remember the names of these are a mix of the two closest compass points but they always start with the main compass point, ie north, east, south or west

4 & 6 FIGURE GRID REFERENCES
Grid references: A grid of squares helps the map-reader to locate a place. The horizontal lines crossing the map from one side to the other are called northings. They are numbered - the numbers increase to the north. The vertical lines crossing the map from top to bottom are called eastings as the numbers increase in an easterly direction.
Things to remember:
Grid references: A grid of squares helps the map-reader to locate a place. The horizontal lines crossing the map from one side to the other are called northings. They are numbered - the numbers increase to the north. The vertical lines crossing the map from top to bottom are called eastings as the numbers increase in an easterly direction.
Things to remember:
- On an OS map each grid square is 1 km x 1 km or 1 sq km.
- When you give a grid reference, always give the easting first: "Along the corridor and up the stairs".
- Start at the left-hand side of the map and go east until you get to the easting crossing through the bottom-left-hand corner of the square you want. Write this number down.
- Move north until you get to the northing crossing the bottom-left-hand corner of the square you want. Look at the number of this grid line and add it to the two-digit number you already have. This is your four-figure grid reference
- In this case, the tourist information office is in grid square 4733
- First, find the four-figure grid reference but leave a space after the first two digits. When you get to the easting at the left-hand side of the grid square you want, keep moving east and estimate or measure how many tenths across your symbol lies. Write this number after the first two digits.
- Next, move north from the bottom-left-hand corner of your grid square and estimate how many tenths your symbol is from this point. Put them together to create a six figure grid reference

Scale and distance
Most maps have a scale. These help us to work out distances on maps. This is given by the scale statement (eg 1:25,000) and/or by showing a scale bar.
The scale shows how much bigger the real world is than the map. If the scale is 1:50,000 it means that the map is 50,000 times smaller than the real world. For example, every 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm in the real world.
Most maps have a scale. These help us to work out distances on maps. This is given by the scale statement (eg 1:25,000) and/or by showing a scale bar.
The scale shows how much bigger the real world is than the map. If the scale is 1:50,000 it means that the map is 50,000 times smaller than the real world. For example, every 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm in the real world.

CONTOURS & HEIGHT
Height
Maps show height in a number of different ways:
Spot heights and triangulation pillars
This map extract shows exact heights by a black dot with a number next to it. The number is the height above sea level in metres. The blue triangle represents a triangulation pillar; the networks of concrete pillars found in the UK that were used to make maps.
Contours
These are lines drawn on maps that join places of the same height. They are usually an orange or brown colour. Some contour lines have their height above or below sea level written on them. It is possible to use them to see the shape of the land - if contour lines are close together the slope is steep, if they are far apart the slope is gentle. Contour lines are usually drawn at 10 metre intervals on a 1:50,000 scale map and at 5 metre intervals on a 1:25,000 scale map.
Height
Maps show height in a number of different ways:
Spot heights and triangulation pillars
This map extract shows exact heights by a black dot with a number next to it. The number is the height above sea level in metres. The blue triangle represents a triangulation pillar; the networks of concrete pillars found in the UK that were used to make maps.
Contours
These are lines drawn on maps that join places of the same height. They are usually an orange or brown colour. Some contour lines have their height above or below sea level written on them. It is possible to use them to see the shape of the land - if contour lines are close together the slope is steep, if they are far apart the slope is gentle. Contour lines are usually drawn at 10 metre intervals on a 1:50,000 scale map and at 5 metre intervals on a 1:25,000 scale map.
HUMAN ACTIVITY ON MAPS
As a geographer you will often be asked to interpret maps (especially OS maps) to determine what is happening in that area. So... can you spot what human activities are happening in the below map of Castleton? - look for visitor centres / urban areas / points of interest like campsites, tourist spots etc
As a geographer you will often be asked to interpret maps (especially OS maps) to determine what is happening in that area. So... can you spot what human activities are happening in the below map of Castleton? - look for visitor centres / urban areas / points of interest like campsites, tourist spots etc
MAP & PHOTOGRAPH ANNOTATION
Maps and photographs are widely used in Geography. They can be used either on their own or they can be compared to other maps/photographs.
To make the photographs / map more detailed and useful - you must ANNOTATE. Take a look at some examples below.
Maps and photographs are widely used in Geography. They can be used either on their own or they can be compared to other maps/photographs.
To make the photographs / map more detailed and useful - you must ANNOTATE. Take a look at some examples below.
Sketch Maps
Sketch maps are drawn to show what you can see on a field study - or to sometimes simplify another map you are using, such as an OS map. Due to smart phones and cameras - field sketches are becoming more unpopular and less useful. See how to complete one below.
Sketch maps are drawn to show what you can see on a field study - or to sometimes simplify another map you are using, such as an OS map. Due to smart phones and cameras - field sketches are becoming more unpopular and less useful. See how to complete one below.
SKILLS 2 GRAPHICAL SKILLS
SPECIFICATION LINK - select and construct appropriate graphs and charts to present data, using appropriate scales – line charts, bar charts, pie charts, pictograms, histograms with equal class intervals, divided bar, scattergraphs, and population pyramids
SKILL 3 NUMERICAL
SPECIFICATION LINK - Numerical skills to:
•• demonstrate an understanding of number, area and scales, and the quantitative relationships between units
•• design fieldwork data collection sheets and collect data with an understanding of accuracy, sample size and procedures, control groups and reliability
•• understand and correctly use proportion and ratio, magnitude and frequency
•• draw informed conclusions from numerical data.
•• demonstrate an understanding of number, area and scales, and the quantitative relationships between units
•• design fieldwork data collection sheets and collect data with an understanding of accuracy, sample size and procedures, control groups and reliability
•• understand and correctly use proportion and ratio, magnitude and frequency
•• draw informed conclusions from numerical data.
SKILL 4 STATISTICAL
CENTRAL TENDENCY
MEAN / MEDIAN / MODE
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INTERQUARTILE RANGE
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RANGE
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SKILL 5 Use of qualitative and quantitative data
Qualitative
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Quantitative
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