The Global Grid

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What you are doing

This practice is about latitude and longitude — the global grid. You will plot points, name continents and oceans, and then do the same thing in reverse for four cities.

1a Mark 4 points 2 pts

1b Continent or ocean 2 pts

1c Explain one point 8 pts

2a City coordinates 4 pts

2b Explain one city 8 pts

2c Exact lookup 1 pt

The rule Apex wrote in bold Do not look up 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, or 2b on the internet or in an atlas. Use the worksheet map. The only time you may use the internet is question 2c on latlong.net.

Before you tap Next In Apex, click the journal/practice icon and print (or screenshot) the worksheet. You need that map in front of you. This site teaches you how to read it — it is not a replacement for turning the worksheet in.

The two numbers

Latitude vs longitude

A location on Earth is two numbers, just like a point on an x-y graph. The “origin” (0, 0) is where the equator crosses the prime meridian.

Latitude ↔️

How far north or south of the equator.

Equator = 0°
North Pole = 90°N
South Pole = 90°S

Memory trick from the lesson: a lateral pass in football goes side to side. Latitude lines run side to side.

Longitude ↕️

How far east or west of the prime meridian.

Prime meridian (Greenwich, England) = 0°
Goes to 180°E and 180°W

Memory trick from the lesson: longitude lines are the long ones — they run pole to pole.

The mix-up almost everyone makes Latitude is the N/S number, so on the map you move up or down to that line. The line itself is drawn left-right. Longitude is the E/W number, so you move left or right. The line itself is drawn up-down.

How to plot

Four moves, every time

The lesson’s example is 30°N, 90°W — New Orleans. Watch it on the map, then try it on your worksheet the same way.

1 Find the equator (gold line, 0° latitude).
2 N or S? N = go up. Stop on the 30°N line.
3 Find the prime meridian (purple line, 0° longitude).
4 E or W? W = go left. Stop on the 90°W line. The crossing is your point.

Equator Prime meridian 30°N, 90°W

If the lines on your printed map are every 15° or 30°, count them. Do not guess from the shape of the land alone.

Question 1a · 2 points

Mark these 4 coordinates

On your printed map, put a dot (and a tiny number 1–4) at each pair. Tap a row here to see it on this practice map after you have tried it yourself.

Equator Prime meridian

Question 1b · 2 points

Continent or ocean?

Look at each dot you just made. Is it on land? Write the continent. Is it in the water? Write the ocean.

If you are between land and water Use the worksheet map, not a perfect globe. If the dot is clearly in the water west of Australia, that is the Indian Ocean even if it looks “close” to land.

Question 1c · 8 points

Explain how you found one point

This is the big grade. Pick one of the four coordinates and write the four moves in sentences. A rough drawing in the margin is extra credit in the teacher’s eyes — the worksheet says “make a rough drawing if necessary.”

You can copy this and swap in your coordinate

Quick drawing to add Draw a + : a horizontal equator and a vertical prime meridian. Mark N at the top, S at the bottom, W left, E right. Put an X on your crossing and label the two numbers.

Questions 2a + 2b · 12 points

Now go the other direction

2a (4 pts): Find each city on the worksheet map. Read the nearest latitude line and longitude line. Write approximate numbers — Apex already used these ballpark values in the last study sheet:

Stay on the worksheet Write what your printed map shows, even if it is 5° off a GPS. They asked for approximate. Do not open Google for 2a.

2b (8 pts) — explain one city the same way, just reversed

I found Tokyo by first finding Japan on the map, on the east coast of Asia. I looked at the latitude lines (side to side) and saw Tokyo sits a little above 30°N, around 35°N. Then I looked at the longitude lines (up and down) and saw it sits near 140°E, far east of the prime meridian. So Tokyo is about 35°N, 140°E.

Question 2c · 1 point · then submit

One exact lookup — then you are done

This is the only internet step. Pick one of the four cities.

1 Open latlong.net
2 Type the city name (for example Tokyo, Japan) and search.
3 Copy the latitude and longitude it shows onto your worksheet for 2c.

1a — four dots on the map 1b — continent or ocean for each 1c — a full four-move explanation (+ a little sketch) 2a — four city coordinates from the map 2b — a full explanation for one city 2c — exact numbers from latlong.net Submit the worksheet in Canvas: Submit Practice: The Global Grid (1.3.2)

Your planner has this as a World Geo item. After you submit, you can mark it complete.