Latitude and Longitude

This scene transports users to a giant globe, with the lines of latitude and longitude clearly marked, and some well-known sites located to show how these measurements can be used to find a position on Earth’s surface.

# Learning objectives

1: To explain what lines of latitude and longitude are.{.info}

2: To understand that latitude and longitude can be used to find a location on Earth.{.info}

# What is Latitude?{.objective .objective1}

In this section students can learn about the equator, and that lines of latitude run parallel to this to the north and south until they reach the poles at 90°. In this activity students are invited to focus on the equator and lines of latitude. They may notice that the equator runs around the widest part of spherical Earth, and that the lines get progressively smaller as they reach the polar regions.

# What is Longitude?{.objective .objective2}

A description is given of lines of longitude, also known as meridians, which measure across from east to west. Unlike the natural location of the equator, the position of the prime meridian is arbitrary and could have been elsewhere. Students can observe the lines of longitude on the globe. They may notice that each meridian encircles the whole of the spherical planet.

# Finding a Location{.objective .objective3}

This section explains how to use lines of latitude and longitude to find any location on the globe by measuring how far north, south, east or west it is. Students are asked to try and use the marked lines on the globe to estimate their current location.

# Teacher Resources

### Download Teacher Notes

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/792600/files/Latitude%20and+Longitude+Teacher+Notes+1.pdf?date=1676461875&size=1717217&md5=f4f4679a854d8b0c6bfa8a0b26d8abdb)

### Student Quiz Answers Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/792601/files/Latitude%20and+Longitude+Teacher+Notes+2.pdf?date=1676462048&size=861100&md5=7fa159c41f70e4a83de1d5b1d6f6c397)

### Download Student Quiz Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/792612/files/Latitude%20and+Longitude+Teacher+Notes+3.pdf?date=1676462183&size=67325&md5=0da0ac26e894de1bdf59796f6800a0c5)