Map Grid Student Worksheets
Geography Skill Builder • Grade 3–4
Name: Date:
Lines of Latitude
Learn how horizontal lines help us find places North and South of the Equator.
Memory Clue: "Lat is Flat" like ladder rungs!
Quick Guide to Latitude:
Lines of latitude are imaginary lines that circle the Earth from east to west. They measure distance North (N) and South (S) of the Equator (0°). The North Pole is at 90° N and the South Pole is at 90° S.
World Latitude Map Equator = 0° Latitude
90° N — North Pole 60° N 60° N 30° N 30° N 0° 0° EQUATOR (0°) 30° S 30° S 60° S 60° S 90° S — South Pole Oslo (60° N) Ottawa Washington, D.C. Cairo (30° N) New Delhi Nairobi (1° S) Brasilia Canberra (35° S)
Directions: Use the map above to answer questions 1–5.
1. Which city is located closest to the Equator (0°)?
A Ottawa, Canada B Cairo, Egypt C Nairobi, Kenya D Oslo, Norway
2. Washington, D.C. is located closest to which line?
A 60° N B 30° N C 0° (Equator) D 30° S
3. Oslo, Norway is located right on which line?
A 60° N B 30° N C 60° S D 90° N
4. Which continent is located completely south of 60° S?
A North America B Antarctica C Australia D Africa
5. Cairo is at 30° N and Nairobi is near 0°. About how many degrees of latitude are between Cairo and Nairobi? Explain how you found your answer.
Answer: ________________ degrees. How I know: __________________________________________________
Map Grid Detectives • Unit 1 Page 1 of 3
Geography Skill Builder • Grade 3–4
Name: Date:
Lines of Longitude
Learn how vertical lines help us find places East and West of the Prime Meridian.
Memory Clue: "Long" lines go pole-to-pole!
Quick Guide to Longitude:
Lines of longitude (also called meridians) run from the North Pole down to the South Pole. They measure distance East (E) and West (W) of the starting line, called the Prime Meridian (0°). Longitude lines go up to 180° on each side.
World Longitude Map Prime Meridian = 0° Longitude
150°W 120°W 90°W 60°W 30°W PRIME MERIDIAN 0° 30°E 60°E 90°E 120°E 150°E London, England Washington, D.C. Dakar Helsinki Islamabad Beijing Tokyo Canberra
Directions: Use the map above to answer questions 1–5.
1. Which city is located directly on or closest to the Prime Meridian (0°)?
A Tokyo, Japan B London, England C Beijing, China D Washington, D.C.
2. Islamabad, Pakistan is located between which two lines of longitude?
A 60° E and 90° E B 60° W and 90° W C 0° and 30° E D 120° E and 150° E
3. Which city is located closest to the 150° E line of longitude?
A Dakar B London C Canberra D Washington, D.C.
4. Are places labeled "West (W)" to the left or right of the Prime Meridian?
A Left (West) B Right (East) C Top (North) D Bottom (South)
5. Look at London (0°) and Helsinki (about 25° E). About how many degrees of longitude are between London and Helsinki?
Answer: ________________ degrees. (Hint: Subtract London's 0° from Helsinki's 25°).
Map Grid Detectives • Unit 1 Page 2 of 3
Geography Skill Builder • Grade 3–4
Name: Date:
Finding Coordinates
Put latitude and longitude together to pinpoint exact locations on a map grid!
The Golden Rule: Latitude first, then Longitude! (Lat, Long)
United States Regional Grid Map Follow lines where Latitude and Longitude cross!
50° N 50° N 45° N 45° N 40° N 40° N 35° N 35° N 105° W 100° W 95° W 90° W NORTH DAKOTA SOUTH DAKOTA NEBRASKA KANSAS MINNESOTA IOWA MISSOURI Minot Bismarck Duluth Pierre (Capital) Rapid City Lincoln Des Moines Waterloo Dodge City Topeka
Part A: Name the City
Find the city located at or near each coordinate pair:
1. 47° N, 92° W:
2. 44° N, 100° W:
3. 37.5° N, 100° W:
4. 42° N, 94° W:
Part B: Write the Coordinates
Write the approximate latitude and longitude (include N and W!):
5. Rapid City, SD:
6. Lincoln, Nebraska:
7. Minot, North Dakota:
8. Duluth, Minnesota:
Detective Challenge: Which city on the map is located closest to where 47° N and 100° W cross? Write your answer: ________________________
Map Grid Detectives • Unit 1 Page 3 of 3
Map Grid Review Packet
Study Guide & Review • Grade 3–4
Name: Date:
Grid Master Review Guide
Essential vocabulary, memory tips, and key concepts for latitude and longitude.
Unit Concept: Earth's Global Address System
Part 1: Memory Clues & Rules
Latitude (Parallels)
"Lat is Flat!" Lines go side-to-side like steps on a ladder. They measure North and South of the Equator (0°).
0° to 90° N or S
Longitude (Meridians)
"Long is Tall!" Lines run up and down from pole to pole. They measure East and West of the Prime Meridian (0°).
0° to 180° E or W
Coordinates
An exact address written as (Latitude, Longitude). Always say North/South first, then East/West!
Example: (40° N, 75° W)
Part 2: Vocabulary Match-Up
Write the letter of the correct matching definition next to each vocabulary word.
1. Equator
2. Prime Meridian
3. Lines of Latitude
4. Lines of Longitude
5. Hemisphere
A. The imaginary 0° line that cuts Earth into Eastern and Western halves.
B. One half of the Earth (hemi = half; sphere = ball).
C. The imaginary 0° line around Earth halfway between the North and South poles.
D. Imaginary lines running pole-to-pole that measure East and West.
E. Imaginary flat lines circling Earth that measure North and South.
Part 3: Label the Globe Diagram
Use the Word Bank below to label the 4 features on the globe.
Word Bank: Equator (0°) Prime Meridian (0°) North Pole (90° N) South Pole (90° S)
1. ____________________ 2. ____________________ 3. ____________________ 4. ____________________
Map Grid Detectives • Review Packet Page 1 of 2
Check for Understanding • Grade 3–4
Name: Date:
The Explorer's Ocean Voyage
Apply your map grid skills to trace early Atlantic voyages before 1492.
Skill Test: Ocean Navigation Grid
Before his famous 1492 trip across the ocean, Christopher Columbus was an experienced sailor who sailed out of Lisbon, Portugal. He sailed north to icy waters and south near the equator! Study the map grid below to investigate his voyages.
Map Grid Teacher Key
Teacher Resource • Answer Key & Notes TEACHER COPY
Worksheets Answer Key
Quick answers and evaluation notes for Student Worksheets Pages 1, 2, and 3.
Grade Band: Grades 3–4 Geography
Page 1: Lines of Latitude
Equator & Parallels
1. Closest to Equator (0°): C (Nairobi, Kenya)
Note: Nairobi is at ~1° S, right against the red 0° equator line.
2. Washington D.C. closest line: B (30° N)
Note: D.C. is ~39° N, which is 9° from 30° N vs 21° from 60° N.
3. Oslo, Norway line: A (60° N)
Note: Oslo sits directly on the 60° N parallel.
4. Continent south of 60° S: B (Antarctica)
Note: The southern polar continent is entirely below 60° S.
5. Cairo to Nairobi distance: About 30 degrees
Sample Explanation: Cairo is at 30° N and Nairobi is at 0°. 30 - 0 = 30 degrees of latitude.
Page 2: Lines of Longitude
Prime Meridian & Meridians
1. Closest to Prime Meridian: B (London, England)
Note: The Royal Observatory in Greenwich (London) defines 0°.
2. Islamabad between: A (60° E and 90° E)
Note: Islamabad is at ~73° E, sitting between the 60°E and 90°E lines.
3. Closest to 150° E: C (Canberra)
Note: Canberra sits at ~149° E in southeastern Australia.
4. West is to the left or right: A (Left / West)
Note: Reinforce "West is Left, East is Right" on standard maps.
5. London to Helsinki distance: About 25 degrees
Sample Explanation: London is at 0° and Helsinki is at ~25° E. 25 - 0 = 25 degrees of longitude.
Page 3: Finding Coordinates (Regional Grid)
Midwest / Plains States
Part A: Name the City
- 1. 47° N, 92° W: Duluth, Minnesota
- 2. 44° N, 100° W: Pierre, South Dakota
- 3. 37.5° N, 100° W: Dodge City, Kansas
- 4. 42° N, 94° W: Des Moines, Iowa
Part B: Write the Coordinates (±1°)
- 5. Rapid City, SD: 44° N, 103° W
- 6. Lincoln, NE: 41° N, 96° W (or 40.8° N)
- 7. Minot, ND: 48° N, 101° W
- 8. Duluth, MN: 47° N, 92° W
