Locating Places on the Earth Chapter Notes | Social Studies Class 3 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

In this chapter, we will learn how to find places on the Earth. We will know about tools like a globe, maps, and a compass that help us locate places. We will also learn about directions like north, south, east, and west, and how to use a sketch to find places around us. Let's explore how we can understand where different places are on our planet!

The Model of the Earth: A Globe

A globe is a small model of the Earth. It helps us understand the Earth and find places on it.

• The globe is round in shape, just like the Earth, and shows what the Earth looks like.
• It is fixed on a stand and tilted a little to show how the Earth is positioned in space around the Sun.
• The globe can spin at a point called the axis, which helps us know how the Earth spins.
• It shows us the continents, countries, oceans, and seas on the Earth.

Maps

• A globe is too small to show all the places on Earth in detail, and it is hard to carry around.
• So, we use maps to know the details of places.
• A map is a drawing of the Earth or a part of it on a flat surface, like paper.
• Maps help us find small towns, cities, and places that a globe cannot show because of its small size.
• Maps use different colours to show things like water bodies, lands, hillsindoors, hills, mountains, plains, and deserts.
• They also use signs and symbols to show things like roads, railways, and landmarks on all maps.
• A legend or key on the map explains what these symbols mean.
• Maps come in different sizes and can be hung on a wall or kept folded.
• A book of maps is called an atlas.

Fun Fact

Gerardus Mercator was the first man to draw a map of the Earth on a flat surface.

Types of Maps

Maps are mostly of two types: 

• A political map shows the boundaries of states and countries, including cities and towns.
• A physical map shows natural features like land, mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Differences Between Globe and Map

Directions

• Directions help us find any place on the Earth.
• There are four main directions: North, East, South, and West.
• The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
• If we stand facing the Sun in the morning (east), the direction behind us is west, our right hand points to the south, and our left hand points to the north.
• The bright Pole Star is always seen in the north at night and is also called the North Star.
• We can find other directions easily with the help of the North Star.
• There are four more directions between the main ones: North-east, North-west, South-east, and South-west.
• All these eight directions help us locate any place on the Earth easily.

Fun Fact

• Sailors in the olden days took the help of the North Star to find out directions. This is because the North Star does not change its position in the course of the night.
• People who make and study maps are called cartographers.

Compass

• A compass is a tool for finding directions; it is also called a mariner’s compass.
• It has a magnetic needle that helps us find the north direction.
• With the north direction, we can find other directions also.
• A compass has been used by sailors for a long time to find directions.
• Now, it is also used in the present time, especially while travelling by sea or air.

Direction on a Map

• A map of a country usually has an arrow drawn on the top, which points to the north direction.
• With the help of this north arrow, we can easily locate places that lie in different directions on the map.

Sketch

• We also use a sketch to find the location of a place.
• A sketch is a rough drawing of a place; it is not an exact drawing.
• We use words like up, down, near, far, in front of, behind, and left or right to give simple directions using a sketch.
• For example, in a sketch: the park is behind the police station, Saina’s house is to the left of Mr Lal’s house, and the temple is near the hospital.

Points To Remember

• A globe is a model of the Earth and is used to study different places in the world.
• A map is drawn on a flat surface, like paper.
• Maps are mostly of two types: physical and political.
• East, west, north, and south are the four main directions.
• A compass and map help in finding directions, hence help in locating places.
• A sketch is a rough drawing of a place that also helps in locating places.

Glossary

• Globe: A small, round model of the Earth that shows continents and oceans.
• Map: A flat drawing of the Earth or a part of it, showing places like cities and rivers.
• Compass: A tool with a magnetic needle that helps find directions like north and south.
• Directions: Ways to find places, like north, south, east, and west.
• Sketch: A rough drawing of a place that helps us find locations using simple words.