Map Tools Help You Read Any Map
Atlas the friendly explorer kneels on a sunny park path, holding a colorful paper map in one hand and pointing at its key box with the other, while a small spinning globe sits beside him on the grass.
- Explain that a map and a globe both stand for real places.
- Identify the four cardinal directions using a compass rose.
- Match map symbols to what they represent using the key.
- Use a key to find a specific place on a simple map.
Key terms
- Map
- A flat drawing of a real place.
- Globe
- A round model of the whole Earth.
- Symbol
- A tiny picture that stands for something real.
- Key
- A box that explains what each symbol means.
Maps and Globes
A map is a flat drawing of a real place, like your town or your country. A globe is a round model of our whole Earth. Both are smaller pictures that stand for real places that are far too big to see all at once. Maps fold up and are easy to carry. Globes show the true round shape of Earth. Both help us find where places are.
Symbols and the Key
Maps use tiny pictures called symbols. A little green tree stands for a forest, and a blue wavy line stands for a river. We cannot fit real trees or rivers on paper, so we use symbols instead. The key, sometimes called a legend, is a small box that lists every symbol and tells you what it means. When you feel stuck reading a map, always look at the key first.
Worked examples
What does a blue wavy line mean?
- Find the symbol on the map.
- Look it up in the key.
- The key says it stands for a river.
Answer: A blue wavy line means a river.
Which tool shows the way North?
- Look for a star-shaped symbol.
- It points to North, South, East, West.
- That symbol is the compass rose.
Answer: The compass rose shows North.
Activity
Match each map symbol on the left to the real place it stands for on the right.
Practice
Name the four cardinal directions on a compass rose.
Tell what the key on a map is used for.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Maps use real photos of everything.Maps use small symbols because real places are too big.
- The title tells what symbols mean.The key, not the title, explains what each symbol means.
Check your understanding
What part of a map tells you what each symbol means?
A compass rose shows the four cardinal directions. Which set is correct?
Why do maps use symbols instead of real photographs of everything?
Atlas opens a map. The key shows a blue square means 'lake.' He looks at the map and sees a blue square near the town. What does that blue square tell him?
Recap
Today we learned that maps and globes stand for real places. Maps use symbols like a tree for a forest, the key tells what each symbol means, and the compass rose shows North, South, East, and West.
Reflect
What place would you most like to find on a map?