What you will be able to do
use a map title, symbols, and legend; use a compass rose to name north, south, east, and west; describe and follow a simple route
Map Elements and Cardinal Directions
How do map elements and cardinal directions help us describe where places are?
Activate what you know
Use position words to describe a classroom object: beside, above, below, or across from. Then point to a teacher-posted north arrow
- mapa model that shows selected information about places
- symbola simple picture, shape, color, or mark that stands for something on a map
- legendthe map key that explains symbols and colors
- compass rosea map feature that shows directions
- cardinal directionsthe four main directions: north, south, east, and west
- routea path from one place to another
- locationwhere a place or feature is
1
Map Elements Turn Marks into Information
A map is a model, not a tiny copy of every object in a place. A mapmaker selects information for a purpose. The title tells what area or topic the map shows. Symbols stand for locations or features, and the legend explains what those symbols mean. Without the legend, a star might mean a school, a capital, or something else. A compass rose shows direction. The four cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. North is often at the top of a page, but not always. Always check the compass rose instead of guessing. Direction words describe one place in relation to another: ‘The library is north of the park.’
2
Describe Locations and Routes One Step at a Time
Relative location tells where one place is compared with another. On the simple map, the library is north of the school and the school is south of the library. The park is east of the school, so the school is west of the park. Opposite-direction pairs help us check our answer: north and south are opposites; east and west are opposites. A route strings directions together in order. From the bus stop, travel east to the school and then north to the library. A useful route names the starting place, each movement, and the destination. Real route planning also considers safe crossings, accessibility, construction, and current conditions, which a simple classroom map may not show
Read Before You Route
Check the title, legend, and compass rose before using symbols or giving directions
Turn the Map into a Sentence
Touch the first place, point along the compass direction, and touch the second place while saying, ‘The ___ is ___ of the ___.’
North Is Not Always the Top
Many maps place north at the top, but mapmakers can orient maps differently. The compass rose, not the page edge, gives the direction
Map a Fictional Block
Draw four public places with a title, four symbols, a legend, and a compass rose. Give a partner a two-step route and let the partner trace it
Maps use selected information. Titles name the map, legends explain symbols, compass roses show direction, and cardinal-direction words help us describe locations and routes
Practice and answer guide
Work through all 8 questions. Open an answer only after you have written or explained your response.
- 1. Which map element explains what a symbol means? A. legend B. title C. border
Check answer
Legend
- 2. Which map element shows north, south, east, and west? A. compass rose B. photograph caption C. price tag
Check answer
Compass rose
- 3. Draw a simple map with a school and park. Add a title, two symbols, a legend, and a compass rose
Check answer
Answers will vary. The map must have a clear title, two distinct symbols matched in the legend, and a compass rose with the four cardinal directions
- 4. On the lesson map, what is north of the school? A. library B. pond C. bus stop
Check answer
Library
- 5. What is west of the school? A. bus stop B. park C. library
Check answer
Bus stop
- 6. If the park is east of the school, where is the school compared with the park?
Check answer
The school is west of the park
- 7. Describe the route from the bus stop to the library using two cardinal directions
Check answer
Go east from the bus stop to the school, then north to the library
- 8. Why should a traveler not use a simple classroom map alone for a real trip?
Check answer
A simple map may omit safe crossings, accessibility, construction, traffic, distance, or current conditions. A current appropriate map and adult guidance are needed