Georgia SS3G2

Social Studies3rd GradeGeographic Understandings

The Standard

Locate and describe the equator, prime meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude on a globe.

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify the equator and prime meridian on a globe. They distinguish latitude from longitude and explain how these reference lines help locate places.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student correctly labels all four features on an unlabeled globe. The student explains that latitude circles the globe east to west, while longitude runs between the poles.
Common Misconceptions: Students often reverse latitude and longitude or confuse the equator with the prime meridian. Some think the lines are physical marks on Earth rather than tools used on maps and globes.
How to Assess It: Give students a blank globe diagram and ask them to label the equator, prime meridian, one latitude line, and one longitude line.

Lesson moves

Wrap colored yarn around a ball to model the equator, prime meridian, latitude lines, and longitude lines.
Ask students to write how the equator and prime meridian divide Earth into hemispheres.
Play a globe clue game where students point to the named reference line or type of line.
Find your town on a globe, then describe its location relative to the equator and prime meridian.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS3G2, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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