Mapskills

How do we use maps?

Content
s
What are maps?

Compasses . . .

Using Direction

Map symbols

4 Figure Grid Refs

6 Figure Grid Refs

Finding heights

Distance & Scale

Describing Routes Practice . . . .

What are maps?

What do you see on the cow?

Maps are a way for us to see what the world looks
like. It is a method that geographers use to locate
different things and to help us find our way from one
place to another

FACT: You have

probably all used
maps at some time in
your life!
Have a brainstorming
session with a
partner to try and
think where you have
used a map in the
past

Look at the following 5

maps and write down what
and where you think they
show

Map 1: Where is this and what does it show?

Map 2: Where is this and what does it show?

Map 3: Where is this and what does it show?

Map 4: Where is this and what does it show?

Map 5: Where is this and what does it show?

So where are
those places?

Map 1 is the Mappa

Geographica which is a
map of the world and
was drawn in 1703
Map 2 is Northern
Ireland and the map
shows the main towns
and roads
Map 3 is a Satellite
Image of the World
taken in 2001

Map 4 is a street map of

Ballymena, drawn in 1995
Map 5 is a map of the
Ballymena area towards
Slemish and shows some of
the local physical features

So, What are maps?

Maps are used to help us to
represent a place. It allows us to
look at the location and
surrounding area and environment
of a place.

Compasses

Compasses are used to show

the direction of places on maps.
This is very important so that
we can know how to use the
map to move from one place to
another.
There are 2 types of compass
that you should use . . . .

North
West

East
South

NW N

NE
E

SE

SW
S

Never
Wheat

Eat
Shredded

Using Direction
When people move from one place to another
they will describe their movement by using the
directions that allowed them to travel.
To practice this there are a few exercises over
the next pages to help you to practice your
direction-finding skills.

North
Use Direction sheet 1 and answer the
questions

West

East
South

Use the map below of the major towns in County

Antrim to work out the directions between each
town.
The map and questions can be found on
Direction Sheet 2

North
West

East
South

How do we use map

symbols?

Page 112 and 113 in Key Geography

New Foundations

Why do we use symbols?

When drawing a map to scale it is

important to include as much detail
as possible however not all the
detail will fit on the map so we have
to use a key of different symbols,
abbreviations and letters to represent
the main items on the map

Think about it this way . . .

.

Imagine that you have

to draw a map that
shows the route from
your house to the
school but you are
not allowed any words .
. .this means that we
need to use symbols to
show what we would
pass on the way . . .

Do you know any map

symbols?

Draw a symbol on the board and then write below what it is!

Quick Quiz
On a page at the back of your book - write down what
you think of the following symbols means
There are 10 of these to guess if you dont have an idea - have a go! But
do remember that you are trying to think of things that might be shown on
a map!

1.

3.

2.

5.
4.

Quick Quiz

6.

7.

9.

8.

10.

So what do they all mean?

CG

. .The
.

Answers

Make sure that you are marking somebody elses

answers and then here they come . . . .

2.

1.
Caravan Park

3.
Information Office

Golf club/course

5.

4.
Telephone

Battlefield site

6.

7.

Lighthouse

8.

Picnic site

9.

CG
Coastguard

10.

Primary Road (A Road)

How many did you get?

Rail station

Now you need to look at

the list of the main map
symbols
These can be found at Page 124 in

your textbook
They can be found on most OS maps
Or you will be given a sheet with the
same symbols on it
You need to learn some of the main
symbols for homework

Homework for
Learn 4 of the sections of the symbols
Tourist Information
Water features
General Features
Abbreviations & Antiquities

This is an Ordnance Survey map of the area around Ballymena.

What different symbols can you see on this map?

Symbols Activity 1
Use the map from the previous slide and along
with Symbols sheet 1, answer the questions
about the use of symbols on local maps.

Symbols Activity 2
Draw a map of the area where you live on A3
paper and try to include as much detail as
possible. You must note all of the key features
in the area phone boxes, buildings, roads,
railway lines, bus stations etc.
The only problem is that you must draw this
map using ONLY the symbols that you have
learnt and been shown

How can we use 4 Figure Grid

References?

You have already looked at the symbols on this map but the blue
lines on the map also help us to find exact places on the map

How can you describe

where these places
are using a Grid?

To find the grid square

that each of the symbols
are found in

14

13
Go along the corridor
and then up the stairs
ACROSS AND THEN
UP

12

Along = 02
Up = 11 GR = 02 11

11
01

02

03

04

Answer these
questions in your
books
Is in square _____

14

Is in square _____
Is in square _____

13

Is in square _____
Is in square _____
Is in square _____ 12

11
01

02

03

04

Activity Use a OS Map

Use any OS map perhaps of your local
area and try to find as many interesting
features and places as possible and give
their 4 figure Grid References.

How can we use 6 Figure Grid

References?

22

21

20
12

13

14

22

21
13

14

220
219
22 1 8
217
216
215
214
213
212
211
2 10
130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137

138

139

140

Lost Addresses

A Thinking skills Activity

Lost
Addresses
Patrick has a problem. He works as a
postman in Larne and he has just received a
batch of parcels that he must deliver as
quickly as possible. The problem is that
before he goes out in his van to deliver the 10
parcels he must work out where the parcels
will be delivered and mark the 6-figure grid
reference in the space below.

When this is done, see if you can work out

what the best route that Patrick might use to
get his parcels delivered as quickly as
possible.

Parcel 1

Tappagh TV Mast Station

Parcel 2

Olderfleet Castle

Parcel 3

Seacourt House

Parcel 4

Glynn School

Parcel 5

Larne Swimming Pool

Patrick now needs your help to plot the route he will use to
deliver these. Using the copy of the map that you have
follow the instructions below.
1

Put an X on the map to show where all the places that

Patrick has to visit are found

Now join the places up by colouring in the roads that

Patrick will use to go from one place to the other.

Finally, Plan the route out into your Geography book.

Write your route up like this
Patrick will start by delivering his first parcel to
___________ at GR __________. He will then travel
________ (what direction) to _______________ at GR
__________. He will then travel ________ (what direction)
to ________________ at GR __________________ . . . etc

Lost Addresses Homework

Activity

For Homework for ___________

Complete the Lost Addresses
Homework Activity (finding the
places) and make sure that you
write your own description of where
you would live

Finding Heights
How can we measure relief on a
map?

On this map how are the heights of

different places shown?

Layer Colouring
Areas of the same
height are shaded
a different colour

Spot Heights
These give the
exact height of a
place on the map.
They are shown as
a black dot with a
number alongside.
The heights are
given in metres

320
270
90

100

Contours
These are lines that
are drawn onto a
map and they join
up places that are
the same height.
The heights are
given in metres

300
200
100

Height Activity 1
Use the map on the next page and the one
on Height Sheet 1 to help you to answer a
few questions

Height Activity 2
The more that you use the maps the
more that you will be able to read the
contours, heights and colours that are
shown on a map

Take a look at a local map and try to

see where the highest points are the be
found and the places with the steepest
slopes.

Distance and Scale

How can we work out distances on a
map?

Maps cannot be the same size as the objects

are in reality or they would not fit on the
page! Therefore we use scale to show the
real distances between places by making
everything smaller.

If you want to find out the distance between two places

on a map there are 2 methods to use. One method
looks at the straight line distance (as the crow flies) and
the other measures the actual distance, by road, river
etc, and usually involves going down bendy lines.

Measuring a straight line

distance
This is very simple to use.
1. Use your ruler to rule the distance
between the 2 places
2. Then compare your answer to the scale
of the map (This is usually in the bottom
corner of the map and for most maps that
you use this will be 1cm = 50,000cm
(0.5Km)

Measuring around a bend

This is a bit more complicated. You need to use a
piece of scrap paper to use to find out the
distances.
1. Find the first straight edge and lay the paper down
along side the road that you are measuring
2. Mark on the start and end point
3. Find the next straight edge and continue the
measurement
4. Continue this until the road is fully measured and
then use your ruler and scale to work out the final
distance

Describing Routes
How did you get here?

It is very important that you learn to use all

your skills in using maps to look at a map
and think about all of the things that you
will pass on your way from one place to
another.

You must imagine that you are actually

taking that route . . . . . .

The Fugitive
The Fugitive is a Thinking skills exercise
where you will hear a tape of a radio
broadcast that takes place following the
escape by a known criminal from the local
prison. Your job is to use the descriptions o
track down where he has got to . . . . .

Use The Fugitive sheets