Map Reading Skills Lesson: How to Understand and Use Maps

Lesson Overview

• Orienteering a Map Without a Compass
• Points of the Compass Order
• Different Types of North on Maps
• Safety Practice When Walking on Roads During Orienteering
• Map-Reading Basics
• Features of Political Maps
• Four-Figure Grid References
• Typical Scale of Continental Maps
• Features of Country Maps
• Practice Q/A

Map reading skills help you understand geographic information shown on maps. These skills include knowing compass directions, grid references, map symbols, and how to use scale. This lesson teaches you the key concepts needed to read maps accurately.

Orienteering a Map Without a Compass

Orienteering a map means finding your way using natural signs when you do not have a compass. The North Star is the most reliable natural guide at night because it points north. Other natural signs like wind or temperature are less useful for finding direction.

Example:
At night, you can locate the North Star to find north and then align your map accordingly to navigate.

Quick Tip:
Use the North Star to find north when a compass is not available.

Mini-quiz:
What can you use to orienteer a map without a compass?
A) Wind
B) Stars
C) Temperature
D) Humidity
Correct answer: B
Stars, especially the North Star, help you find north at night.

FAQ:
How can you orienteer a map without a compass?
You can orienteer a map without a compass by using natural signs like stars.

Points of the Compass Order

The main compass points are North, East, South, and West. These points are arranged clockwise starting at the top of the compass with North. This order helps you orient maps and navigate directions correctly.

Example:
If the map's top is North, East is to the right, South is at the bottom, and West is to the left.

Quick Tip:
Remember the compass points start at North and go clockwise: N, E, S, W.

Mini-quiz:
What is the order of compass points starting at 12 o'clock going clockwise?
A) North, East, South, West
B) East, North, South, West
C) South, West, North, East
D) North, West, South, East
Correct answer: A
Compass points start at North and move clockwise to East, South, and West.

FAQ:
Why is the compass order North, East, South, and West?
The compass points are arranged clockwise starting at North to standardize map reading.

Different Types of North on Maps

Maps show different types of north: true north, magnetic north, and map north. True north points to the Earth's North Pole and stays fixed. Magnetic north is where compasses point, but it moves over time. Map north is the top edge of the map and may differ from true north.

Example:
Your compass points to magnetic north, but the map's top is true north, so you must adjust when navigating.

Quick Tip:
True north is fixed, while magnetic north changes with location.

Mini-quiz:
Which north is the actual fixed geographic point?
A) Magnetic north
B) Map north
C) True north
D) Sea north
Correct answer: C
True north points to the geographic North Pole and does not change.

FAQ:
What is true north on a map?
True north is the fixed direction toward the Earth's geographic North Pole.

Safety Practice When Walking on Roads During Orienteering

Walking on the left side of the road lets you face oncoming traffic, which increases safety. This rule is common in many countries but check local laws to be sure.

Example:
In the UK, walking on the left side of the road while hiking lets you see vehicles coming toward you.

Quick Tip:
Walk on the left side to face traffic and stay safe.

Mini-quiz:
Which side of the road should you walk on when orienteering?
A) Right
B) Left
C) Middle
D) Either side
Correct answer: B
Walking on the left lets you face oncoming traffic.

FAQ:
Why should you walk on the left side of the road during orienteering?
Walking on the left side helps you see oncoming traffic for safety.

Map-Reading Basics

The basics of map reading include compass directions, grid references, map key, scale, and title. Compass directions orient the map. Grid references locate points using coordinates. The key explains symbols. Scale shows real distances. The title tells the map's subject.

Example:
The map key might show that blue lines represent rivers, and the scale helps measure the distance between two places.

Quick Tip:
Check the key and scale before using a map.

Mini-quiz:
Which is NOT a map-reading basic?
A) Compass directions
B) Grid references
C) Map key
D) Bus schedules
Correct answer: D
Bus schedules are not part of basic map reading.

FAQ:
What are the basics of map reading?
Basics of map reading are compass directions, grid references, key, scale, and title.

Features of Political Maps

Political maps show borders, capital cities, and major rivers but not land elevation. Contour lines that show height appear only on physical maps.

Example:
A political map shows country boundaries but does not display mountains or hills.

Quick Tip:
Political maps show borders and cities, not land shape.

Mini-quiz:
Which feature does a political map NOT show?
A) Border lines
B) Capital cities
C) Contour lines
D) Rivers
Correct answer: C
Contour lines show elevation, which political maps do not include.

FAQ:
What features do political maps show?
Political maps show boundaries, cities, and rivers but not elevation.

Four-Figure Grid References

A four-figure grid reference identifies a grid square on the map using eastings and northings. The first two digits show east, the last two north, marking a specific square.

Example:
Grid reference 3247 means 32 east and 47 north, locating one grid square.

Quick Tip:
Four-figure grid references move north and east.

Mini-quiz:
What does a four-figure grid reference show?
A) Grid square to the north and east
B) Grid square to the south and west
C) Grid square to the east and west
D) Grid square to the north and west
Correct answer: A
Four-figure references point to the grid square north and east of the location.

FAQ:
How do four-figure grid references work on maps?
They give the grid square located north and east of a point.

Typical Scale of Continental Maps

The scale on continental maps is large, like 1:10,000,000, meaning 1 cm on the map equals 10 million cm (100 km) in reality. Larger areas use larger scales and show less detail.

Example:
At 1:10,000,000 scale, 1 cm on the map equals 100 km on the ground.

Quick Tip:
Larger map areas have bigger scales and less detail.

Mini-quiz:
What is a typical scale for a continental map?
A) 1:1000
B) 1:10,000,000
C) 1:100,000
D) 1:1
Correct answer: B
Continental maps use large scales like 1:10 million.

FAQ:
Why do continental maps have large scales?
They use large scales to cover vast areas with less detail.

Features of Country Maps

Country maps show important places, land steepness, and grid lines. They do not show bus numbers or street names, which are details for city maps.

Example:
A country map labels towns and shows hills but not local bus routes.

Quick Tip:
Country maps focus on major places and land features, not streets or buses.

Mini-quiz:
Which feature is NOT usually on a country map?
A) Important places
B) Steepness of land
C) Bus numbers
D) Grid lines
Correct answer: C
Bus numbers belong to city maps, not country maps.

FAQ:
What features do country maps show?
Country maps show important places, land steepness, and grid lines.

Practice Q/A

1. What can you use to orienteer a map without a compass?
   A) Temperature
   B) Stars
   C) Wind
   D) Humidity
   Correct: B
   Stars help find direction at night.
2. What is the first compass point at 12 o'clock going clockwise?
   A) East
   B) North
   C) South
   D) West
   Correct: B
   North starts the compass order.
3. Which north is fixed on Earth?
   A) Magnetic north
   B) Map north
   C) True north
   D) Sea north
   Correct: C
   True north points to the geographic North Pole.
4. Which side of the road should you walk on when orienteering?
   A) Left
   B) Right
   C) Middle
   D) Either side
   Correct: A
   Walking on the left faces traffic.
5. What does a political map NOT show?
   A) Capital cities
   B) Contour lines
   C) Border lines
   D) Rivers
   Correct: B
   Contour lines show elevation, not political boundaries.
6. What is the scale of a continental map?
   A) 1:1000
   B) 1:10,000,000
   C) 1:100,000
   D) 1:1
   Correct: B
   Continental maps use very large scales.

These map reading skills give you the ability to use maps accurately and navigate geography with confidence.