Relative and Absolute Location Teacher Resources
Where in the world are your students? Help them identify their relative and absolute locations on the globe with a collection of our teacher-curated geography resources.
Go over the basics of navigation with a lesson designed for learners of all ages. You can also review geography vocabulary with a resource that introduces the concepts of relative and absolute location, and a presentation on the five themes of geography described by the acronym “LPHMR” (location, place, human environment interaction, movement, and region. This mapping worksheet is a great way to reinforce atlas skills, as well.
Specific case studies of countries around the world can teach young navigators about the locations, cultures, and politics of these places. Use a study on Romania, the Balkan region, or Puerto Rico to further establish relative and absolute location in your geography lesson. High school learners can also use GPS technology to extend their knowledge and experience.
Knowing how to interpret absolute location and longitude and latitude can help you identify historical and geological events as well! A geography activity prompts class members to track the 1899 Harriman Alaska Expedition Route, while a lesson applies relative and absolute location to natural disasters, including earthquakes and volcanoes, based on the geographic locations of tectonic plates.
Showing 174 resources
Lesson Planet Curated
Overcoming Obstacles Middle School Curriculum: Decision Making
The five lessons in the Overcoming Obstacles Middle School Curriculum: Decision Making Module teach middle schoolers a five-step decision-making process. Through a series of games and activities, participants learn how to gather...
Mr. Head's 6th Grade Classroom
Absolute Location
How do we know where we are in the world? A presentation for middle schoolers explains absolute location and other geography terms such as relative location. It also gives scholars the opportunity to practice finding absolute location on...
Curated OER
Absolute Location
Fifth graders examine the geographic concept of absolute location. Using a variety of resources, they create a life-size classroom grid and locate the coordinates of a point, identify latitude and longitude of different locations, and...
Curated OER
Relative Location
First graders use landmarks to describe relative locations of a place. In this geography and mapping lesson plan, 1st graders draw picture maps of their bedrooms to show an object's location in relation to other objects. As an...
Curated OER
Absolute and Relative Location
Second graders understand the difference between relative and absolute location using the grid map as an example of an absolute location. They observe a class map showing longitude and latitude lines and learn that they provide exact...
Curated OER
Spanish Lesson - Furniture, Relative Location
Fourth graders will understand terms for relative location: en, entre, a la derecha, a la izquierda, debajo de, hacia arriba, sobre. They will identify furniture and decorations for specific rooms: muebles, sofá, sillón, azulejos,...
Curated OER
Where In the World Am I?
Learners identify their location in the world after studying latitude, longitude, relative location, and absolute location. They use assigned web site to find information to make a flipbook that answers questions about their location in...
Curated OER
Learning About Location: Charting the Path of the George W. Elder
Learners acquire a working knowledge of the geographical concepts: absolute location, relative location, longitude and latitude. They analyze primary sources that shows the physical and human characteristics of the places along the 1899...
Curated OER
Just Draw Me a Map!!!!
Students draw a map to give directions to someone rather then give them too many relative locations.
Curated OER
Drawing Positions for Shapes Worksheet
Here are some fun preposition challenges for your pupils! They draw familiar pairs of shapes (triangle, circle, square, star, and diamond) based on relative location prompts. The terms include beside, above,...
K12 Reader
Absolute Location
Where in the world are we? As a reading comprehension exercise, kids read a short passage about navigation using latitude and longitude, and then respond to a series of questions based on the article.
Curated OER
Where In The World Is Bermuda?
Pupils locate the Island of Bermuda, and identify its absolute and relative location.
Curated OER
Locating Places
In this locating places activity, students locate locations by referring to the absolute locations and finding out the coordinates for each location. Students complete 16 problems.
Curated OER
Globe Lesson 8 - Locating Places - Grade 6+
In this absolute location instructional activity, middle schoolers read a 2-paragraph review of locating places and respond to 16 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Absolute And Relative Location
Students create a map that takes someone from school to their home using both relative and absolute locations. They assume the person using the map is unfamiliar with the area.
Curated OER
Where in The World Am I?
Students explore the concept of absolution location. In this geography skills lesson, students discuss how to identify and locate latitude and longitude. Students play a game to reinforce the skills.
Curated OER
Plotting A Hurricane Using latitude and Longitude
High schoolers explore map and plotting skills by tracing the movement s of hurricanes through the Earth's systems. a hurricane map is developed from daily media reports.
K12 Reader
Where On Earth Are You?
What do we use to determine the exact locations on the earth? Your kids can learn all about compass roses and latitude and longitude. Test understanding with the five reading comprehension questions included on the page.
Curated OER
Relative Location Words - Spanish
Fourth graders will understand terms for relative location: en, fuera de, hacia, a, para abajo, sobre, debajo de, alrededor de, entre, por/a través de, hacia arriba, a la derecha, a la izquierda. They will place things in appropriate...
Curated OER
Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map
Second and third graders practice with basic map skills. They create their own map including a legend and a compass rose. This fabulous plan has many excellent websites linked which allow learners to explore maps of all kinds; including...
Curated OER
Lesson Ten: Direction
Students explore the concept of relative location. In this map activity, students read I Hate English by Ellen Levine and consider how maps and globes help people to familiarize themselves with an area.
Curated OER
Where in the World? Your Relative Location
In this geography worksheet, students complete a graph showing their location on the planet earth. Students determine what percent of all people on Earth are on their continent, in their country and part of their town.
US Mint
Absolutely and Relatively: The Puerto Rico Quarter Reverse
How much does your class know about Puerto RIco? How much can they learn from the back of a 2009 quarter? Use the coin, part of a series of quarters that depict US territories, to teach learners about the geography, culture, and history...
Curated OER
Tectonic Plates, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes
Challenge geography classes to locate the major volcanoes and earthquake faults on a world map. In groups, they identify the pattern made and examine the relationship between the locations of the faults and volcanoes and tectonic...
