Class 6 Social Science Chapter 1 : Locating Places on the Earth Notes & Summary in English for CBSE students
CBSE Class 6 Social Science Chapter 1 Notes & Summary in English for “Locating Places on the Earth” (based on NCERT Social studies textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond).
Chapter 1 – Locating Places on the Earth Complete Notes
Class 6 Social Science – Exploring Society: India and Beyond
Theme A — India and the World: Land and the People
Chapter 1: Locating Places on the Earth
(Complete Notes + Concept-wise Explanation + Summary CBSE Class 6 Social Science – Exploring Society: India and Beyond (sst) Book)
Chapter 1 Locating Places on the Earth Summary
This chapter explains how we locate places on Earth using maps, globes, latitudes, longitudes, and time zones. Students learn the difference between local time and standard time and understand how global coordinates help in identifying any place on the planet.
Detailed Chapter Notes – Locating Places on the Earth
1. What Is a Map?
A map is a drawing or representation of an area as seen from above. It may represent:
- A small area (village, town)
- A larger area (district, state, country)
- The whole world
Maps help us:
- Find directions
- Measure distance
- Locate places
Types of Maps
- Physical Maps – show natural features like mountains, rivers, oceans.
- Political Maps – show states, countries, boundaries, cities.
- Thematic Maps – show specific themes like rainfall, crops, population.
Atlas
A book containing a collection of maps.
2. Components of a Map
Maps have three major components:
a) Distance
The scale of a map tells how much the actual distance is reduced.
Example: 1 cm = 500 m
b) Direction
Four cardinal directions:
North, East, South, West
Intermediate directions:
NE, NW, SE, SW
c) Symbols
Since full drawings cannot fit in a map, symbols represent features like:
- Roads
- Railway lines
- Rivers
- Buildings (school, post office)
- Temples, mosques, churches
These symbols are standardised by the Survey of India.
3. Mapping the Earth
The Earth is spherical, so representing it on a flat map is difficult.
A globe is a small model of Earth showing its shape and features accurately.
4. Understanding Coordinates
Just as rows and columns help locate a square on a chessboard, coordinates help locate places on Earth.
These coordinates are based on:
- Latitude
- Longitude
Together, they help identify the exact location of any place.
5. Latitudes
Latitudes are imaginary horizontal lines running east–west.
They are also called parallels of latitude.
Important points:
- The Equator is latitude 0°.
- They measure the distance from the Equator.
- Poles are at 90°N (North Pole) and 90°S (South Pole).
- Circles become smaller as we go toward poles.
- Latitudes influence climate:
- Near Equator: Hot
- Middle latitudes: Moderate
- Near poles: Cold
6. Longitudes
Longitudes are imaginary vertical lines running north–south from pole to pole.
They are also called meridians of longitude.
Important points:
- Prime Meridian (0°) passes through Greenwich, London (chosen in 1884).
- Longitudes measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
- They meet at the poles.
- They help determine local time.
7. Hemispheres
- The Equator divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
- The Prime Meridian divides Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
8. Ancient Indian Prime Meridian
- Ancient India used its own prime meridian called madhya rekhā.
- It passed through Ujjayinī (Ujjain).
- Used by astronomers like Varāhamihira.
9. Time and Time Zones
The Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours, so:
1 hour = 15° rotation
Thus:
Moving east → add time
Moving west → subtract time
Local Time
The time at a place based on its longitude.
Standard Time
To avoid confusion, countries adopt one standard time.
- The standard time for India is IST = GMT + 5 hours 30 minutes.
- Countries with large width (Russia, USA) have multiple time zones.
International Date Line
Located near 180° longitude.
Crossing it changes the calendar date:
- Eastward → subtract a day
- Westward → add a day
Concept Overview in Short Points
- Maps represent surfaces of Earth in flat drawings.
- Main components: Scale, Direction, Symbols.
- A globe shows Earth more accurately than flat maps.
- Latitudes run east–west; longitudes run north–south.
- Coordinates = (latitude + longitude) locate any place.
- Prime Meridian = 0° longitude; Equator = 0° latitude.
- IST = GMT + 5:30 hours.
- Earth divided into hemispheres using Equator and Prime Meridian.
- IDL causes change in date.
Chapter Summary (Short Version)
This chapter teaches how to use maps and globes to locate places on Earth.
It explains distance, direction, and symbols, the three essential parts of maps.
Students learn about latitudes and longitudes, which form a grid system for pinpointing any location on Earth.
The chapter also explains how the Earth’s rotation creates local time, and why countries use standard time.
It introduces the International Date Line and how crossing it changes the date.