🗺️ CATEGORY 1: COORDINATES & THE COURT
$100 — Find the Field
A soccer stadium is located at 33°N, 84°W.
What do these numbers represent?
The stadium's absolute location, given using latitude and longitude coordinates.
Location & Climate
$100 — Hot or Cold?
Two outdoor teams play in different locations.
Team A: 10°N
Team B: 60°N
Which team is more likely to experience colder temperatures?
Team B.
Why? It is farther from the Equator.
$100 — Finding the Fans
A professional team wants to attract thousands of fans to every game.
Would the team probably choose a location with a large population or a very small population?
A large population.
$100 — The Equipment Problem
A football team needs helmets, uniforms, food, and other supplies.
What geographic process allows these goods to move from producers to the team?
Distribution.
$100 — Modify the Field
A city clears trees and levels land to build a soccer stadium.
What is the city doing to the environment?
Modifying the environment.
$200 — Latitude Lines
A basketball arena is located at 35°N, 85°W.
What do the 35°N coordinates tell you?
The arena is 35 degrees north of the Equator.
$200 — Latitude Matters
A team moves from 25°N to 50°N.
What change in climate would the team most likely experience?
Generally, a cooler climate.
$200 — Geography Shapes Population
A city develops along a large river.
Give one reason why the river might encourage people to live there.
Rivers can provide water, transportation, fertile land, resources, and opportunities for economic activity.
$200 — Economic Activity
A city has a large population, major highways, and access to a port.
Why might this location attract businesses?
The geography provides access to workers, customers, transportation, and trade opportunities.
$200 — Building for the Fans
A stadium is built in an area that frequently floods.
What might engineers do to modify the environment or protect the stadium?
Drainage systems, levees, raised structures, flood barriers, etc.
$300 — Longitude Lines
A baseball stadium is located at 33°N, 84°W.
What does 84°W tell you?
The stadium is 84 degrees west of the Prime Meridian.
$300 — Same Sport, Different Climate
A soccer team plays in a tropical location near the Equator. Another team plays far north.
Explain one way climate could affect how the teams prepare for games.
Clothing, hydration, playing schedules, heating/cooling, field conditions, etc.
$300 — Mountain Challenge
A team is considering building an arena in a remote mountainous area.
Give one geographic reason why fewer people might live there.
Difficult transportation, rugged terrain, limited land for development, harsh climate, etc.
$300 — Follow the Jersey
A company produces team jerseys in one location and sells them across the country.
Why is geography important to this process?
Geography affects where production occurs and how easily products can be transported and distributed to consumers.
$300 — Natural Resource → Sports
A city has a large supply of timber.
A company uses the timber to produce materials for construction.
How are people using a natural resource to modify their environment?
They are using a natural resource to create materials and construct buildings/infrastructure.
$400 — Coordinate Scouting
Two teams are located at:
Both teams have the same latitude.
What can you conclude about their locations?
They are the same distance north of the Equator, but Team B is farther west.
$400 — Choose the Location
A professional football league wants to hold an outdoor championship in January.
Which location would likely provide warmer conditions?
Location A: 5°N
Location B: 55°N
Explain why.
Location A because it is closer to the Equator and generally has a warmer climate.
$400 — Population Distribution
Two possible locations for a new basketball franchise:
City A
City B
Which location would probably have a larger potential fan base? Explain using geography.
City A because its larger population and transportation connections make it easier to attract fans.
A company wants to manufacture sports equipment.
Location A has:
Location B has very few resources and poor transportation.
Which location would probably be better for production? Why?
Location A because its geography provides resources, workers, transportation, and access to consumers.
$400 — When Modification Creates Problems
A city builds roads, parking lots, and a massive stadium by removing a large amount of vegetation.
Identify ONE possible environmental problem that could result.
Increased flooding/runoff, habitat loss, erosion, pollution, increased temperatures, etc.
$500 — Absolute Location Challenge
A sports reporter says:
“Our stadium is located somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, west of the Prime Meridian.”
Another reporter says:
“That isn't enough information to identify the stadium's exact location.”
Who is correct? Explain.
The second reporter is correct. Knowing the hemispheres gives a general location, but coordinates of latitude and longitude are needed to determine absolute location.
$500 — Climate Changes the Strategy
A sports league wants to expand into a region with extremely hot summers.
The league could:
Explain how the location's climate is influencing the league's decision.
The climate creates environmental conditions that affect when and where sporting events can safely and successfully occur.
$500 — Geography Doesn't Make the Decision Alone
A sports company wants to build a stadium in a location with a small population.
However, the area has abundant natural resources and is developing new transportation routes.
Explain how the area's geography could eventually lead to population growth.
Natural resources can create economic activity and jobs, while improved transportation can make it easier for people and goods to move into and out of the area.
$500 — Trade Route Challenge
A sports equipment company can build a factory in either location:
Location A: Near a major highway and port
Location B: Far inland with few transportation routes
The equipment will be sold around the world.
Analyze how the geography of each location could affect the company's production, distribution, and trade.
Location A would likely make distribution and international trade easier because of its transportation connections. Location B could face higher costs or longer transportation times.
$500 — Was the Modification Worth It?
A city wants to host a major international sporting event.
To prepare, it plans to:
The project could create jobs and bring money into the city, but it could also damage the environment.
Analyze BOTH the economic benefits and environmental problems that could result.
Students should recognize that environmental modification can create economic opportunities while also producing consequences such as habitat loss, pollution, runoff, erosion, or increased resource use.