Explore Basic Mapping Concepts and Learn to Read a Map!

A map is a flat drawing that shows a place as if you are looking down at it from high above. This is called a bird's-eye view or an aerial view. Maps help you find places and understand where things are located.

A map is different from a photograph. A photograph shows what a place really looks like. A map uses symbols and colors to show where things are. You can learn about Features of Our Community by looking at maps of your neighborhood.

Map Title

The map title tells you what the map shows. For example, a title might say "Map of Our School" or "Map of California." You always look at the title first to know what you are reading.

Map Legend (Map Key)

The map legend, also called the map key, explains what the symbols and colors on the map mean. Without the key, you would not know what the small pictures stand for. Every symbol on the map is explained in the legend.

Map Symbols

A symbol is a small picture, shape, or color that stands for something real. For example, a small tree picture might stand for a park. A star inside a circle often shows where a capital city is located. Symbols make maps easier to read.

Compass Rose

The compass rose is a special tool on a map that shows directions. It shows the four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. On most maps, North points to the top, South is at the bottom, East is to the right, and West is to the left.

Map Scale

The map scale helps you figure out how far apart two real places are. For example, one inch on the map might equal one mile in real life. The scale helps you understand real distances.

A globe is a round, ball-shaped model of the Earth. Because the Earth is round, a globe shows it very accurately. A map is flat, so it can make some places look bigger or smaller than they really are. Both maps and globes show you where places are located.

You can use different kinds of maps. A neighborhood map shows streets, homes, schools, and parks near where you live. A map of your school shows where classrooms, the gym, and the cafeteria are. You will learn about World Maps and Locations as you keep studying maps.

Map: A flat drawing that shows a place as if you are looking down at it from above.

Map Title: The words on a map that tell you what place or topic the map shows.

Map Legend (Map Key): The part of a map that explains what each symbol and color means.

Symbol: A small picture, shape, or color on a map that stands for something real, like a park or a school.

Compass Rose: A tool on a map that shows the four main directions: North, South, East, and West.

Cardinal Directions: The four main directions North, South, East, and West shown on a compass rose.

Map Scale: A tool on a map that helps you figure out how far apart real places are from each other.

Globe: A round, ball-shaped model of the Earth that shows all the continents and oceans.

Bird's-Eye View: Looking straight down at a place from high up above, the way maps show places.

Aerial View: Looking down at a place from high above, like a bird or airplane would see it.

Neighborhood Map: A map that shows the streets and places near your home, like parks, schools, and stores.

Location: Where a place or thing is found on the Earth or on a map.

You can practice reading maps every day. Try looking at a map of your school and finding the library, gym, and cafeteria using the map key and compass rose. You can also look at a map of your city and find streets, parks, and important buildings.

When you look at a map, remember to check the title first, then the legend, and then use the compass rose to find directions. You will use these skills when you learn about Where People Live and how geography affects communities.

You have already learned about your Local Environment Natural Features and Human Structures and Community Places. These topics help you understand what you might see on a map. You also practiced Making Observations, Gathering Information, and Asking Questions, which are all skills that help you read and understand maps.

Learning about basic mapping concepts connects to many other topics you will study. You already explored Features of Our Community, which helps you know what kinds of places appear on a neighborhood map. You will also connect maps to People and Places to understand how people live in different locations.

When you practice Finding Answers, you can use maps as a tool to answer geography questions. Maps also connect to Sequencing Events because you can use maps to follow a path or route in order.

After learning basic mapping concepts, you will be ready to explore World Maps and Locations, Types of Landforms Mountains Valleys and Plains, and Types of Water Bodies Oceans Lakes Rivers. You will also learn about Where People Live, Climate and Geography Impact, and Understanding Other Places. All of these topics use the map skills you are building right now.