What is a Map?
A map is a representation of the Earth’s features drawn on a flat
surface. Maps use symbols and colours to represent features of an area,
simplifying the real world.
Features of a Map
Feature
Title
Legend
Scale
Direction
Description
Identifies the area shown, topic, focus or purpose of
the map
Explains the meaning of symbols & colours
Represents the relationship between distance on the
map and distance in the real world
Represented with an arrow or a symbol or by the use of
latitude & longitude
Sets the map apart from other information
Border
Date of
Publication
Indicates how recent the map is
1
How to Label a Map
Cartography is the art of drawing accurate, easily readable, attractive
maps.
LABELLING
 Should be as NEAT as possibly
 Should be printed in pencil first, then neatly copied in ink (erase
pencil lines)
 Should be spelled accurately
 Printed parallel to the base of the map
 River names should curve to follow the course of the river
 A DOT (.) should be used when labeling cities, placing the name
of the city as close as possible
 The size of labels depends on the amount of information need on
the map
 Larger features usually have larger labels
 Labels for similar features (capital cities) should be the same size
 Labels should not block other information on the map
 DO NOT underline labels
COLOURING/SHADING
 Maps should be properly colour coded using different colours to
show the different areas on the map
 Shade consistently avoiding light and dark patches
 Use solid colours only
 White or black are not to be used as colours on map
 Grey should only be used for areas not important to the map
 Blue is only to be used for water: lakes, rivers, oceans, sea, bays
 When shading large water bodies, ‘feathering’ around the edge is
acceptable
 Ensure the colours used on the map match the colours used in the
legend
2
Mapping Checklist
Be sure to follow the mapmaking expectations below when
completing all maps in this course.
Feature
Title
Legend
Scale
Direction
Border
Date of
Publication
Map Making Expectations
 Should be within the map frame or border
 Should be at the TOP of the map
 Should be UNDERLINED or BOXED
 Should not block any of the map’s information
 Should include: what, where, when
 All maps MUST have a legend
 A legend should not block any other map information
 Place a BORDER around the legend information
 All legends must have an UNDERLINED TITLE
 Direction and scale can be included in the legend
 Provide a scale, either linear, statement or
representative fraction
 Use a ruler
 All maps MUST have a direction arrow
 North should always be at the top of the page
 Use a ruler
 Must be around the entire map
 Must be of equal proportions
All title, legend, & labeling must be within the border
 Indicate when the map was produced
 Indicate who produced the map
A map is a simple illustration of
material. Keep your map neat and
make sure that it illustrates what your
title indicates. DO NOT clutter it with
unnecessary material.
3
Political Map of Canada
Using a blank outline map of Canada, label each of the following items:
•
•
•
the provinces and territories (13)
the capitals of the provinces and territories (13)
the following additional cities:
• Cornerbrook
• Channel Port aux Basque
• Sydney
• Moncton
• Saint John
• Montreal
• Schefferville
• Ottawa
• Hamilton
• Sudbury
• Thunder Bay
• Sault Ste. Marie
• Thompson
• Churchill
• Saskatoon
• Calgary
• Vancouver
• Fort McMurray
• Prince Rupert
• Kelowna
Remember to use different font styles for different features. For example:
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Montreal
Ottawa
Lake Ontario
- Province
- City
- Capital
- Water Body
4
5
CGC 1P Map Evaluation Rubric
Name:___________________________________
Categories
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Map Basics
(Communicati
on)
addresses a minimal
number of map
components (title,
legend, scale, date,
direction, grid, borders)
addresses some map
components (title, legend,
scale, date, direction, grid,
borders)
addresses most map
components (title,
legend, scale, date,
direction, grid, borders)
addresses all map
components (title,
legend, scale, date,
direction, grid, borders)
Knowledge
includes few required
components; or
includes all required
components but many
corrections necessary
includes some required
components; or includes
all required components
but some corrections
necessary
includes all required
components, but one or
two corrections are
necessary
includes all required
components correctly;
Organization/
Lay-out
(Process)
contains frequent
inconsistencies in text
type, size, and style:
contains some
inconsistencies in text
type, size, and style:
contains few
inconsistencies in text
type, size, and style:
displays perfect
consistency in text type,
size, and style:
limited organization
evident;
information is organized
and mostly complete;
cannot clearly illustrate
concepts through
mapping
uses maps with some
effectiveness
information is clearly
organized and is
complete;
information is organized
in a highly effective
manner, concisely and
completely;
demonstrates minimal
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates occasional
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates some
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates frequent
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates no map
alterations or additions
(e.g. missing features,
symbols)
demonstrates at least one
map alteration or addition
suitable to purpose
demonstrates
occasional map
alterations or additions
suitable to purpose
demonstrates several
map alterations or
additions suitable to
purpose
Creativity
(Application)
communicates
information through
maps with clarity
communicates
information with a high
degree of clarity
6
7
CGC 1P Map Evaluation Rubric
Name:___________________________________
Categories
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Map Basics
(Communicati
on)
addresses a minimal
number of map
components (title,
legend, scale, date,
direction, grid, borders)
addresses some map
components (title, legend,
scale, date, direction, grid,
borders)
addresses most map
components (title,
legend, scale, date,
direction, grid, borders)
addresses all map
components (title,
legend, scale, date,
direction, grid, borders)
Knowledge
includes few required
components; or
includes all required
components but many
corrections necessary
includes some required
components; or includes
all required components
but some corrections
necessary
includes all required
components, but one or
two corrections are
necessary
includes all required
components correctly;
Organization/
Lay-out
(Process)
contains frequent
inconsistencies in text
type, size, and style:
contains some
inconsistencies in text
type, size, and style:
contains few
inconsistencies in text
type, size, and style:
displays perfect
consistency in text type,
size, and style:
limited organization
evident;
information is organized
and mostly complete;
cannot clearly illustrate
concepts through
mapping
uses maps with some
effectiveness
information is clearly
organized and is
complete;
information is organized
in a highly effective
manner, concisely and
completely;
demonstrates minimal
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates occasional
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates some
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates frequent
creative use of colour,
backgrounds, borders,
textual style, and
graphics;
demonstrates no map
alterations or additions
(e.g. missing features,
symbols)
demonstrates at least one
map alteration or addition
suitable to purpose
demonstrates
occasional map
alterations or additions
suitable to purpose
demonstrates several
map alterations or
additions suitable to
purpose
Creativity
(Application)
communicates
information through
maps with clarity
communicates
information with a high
degree of clarity
8
Drainage Map of Canada
•
Using a blank outline map of Canada, label each of the following items:
• Lake Ontario (ON)
• Lake Erie (ON)
• Lake Huron (ON)
• Lake Superior (ON)
• Lake Michigan (MI/IN/IL)
• Georgian Bay (ON)
• Lake Winnipeg (MB)
• Lake Manitoba (MB)
• Red River (MB)
• Assiniboine River (MB)
• North Saskatchewan River (SK)
• South Saskatchewan River (SK)
• Saskatchewan River (SK)
• Lake Athabasca (SK/AB)
• Great Slave Lake (NT)
• Great Bear Lake (NT)
• Okanagan Lake (BC)
• Strait of Georgia (BC)
• Fraser River (BC)
• Skeena River (BC)
• Mackenzie River (NT)
• Hudson Bay (NU/MB/ON/QC)
• James Bay (NU/ON/QC)
• Ungava Bay (QC)
• St. Lawrence River (QC)
• Gulf of St. Lawrence (QC/PE)
• Bay of Fundy (NB/NS)
• Northumberland Strait (NB/NS)
• Cabot Strait (NS/NL)
• Strait of Belle Isle (NL)
• Ottawa River (ON/QC)
9
Direction on a Map
Compass: A method of finding direction
Compass Rose
 In the shape of a circle (360°)
 Used to indicate direction on a map
 The 4 CARDINAL POINTS are: North, East, South, West
 The 12 ORDINAL POINTS are: NE, SE, SW, SE, NNE, ENE, ESE,
SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW
10
Direction on a Map
1. On the compass rose below label the 4 ordinal points and 12
cardinal points at the appropriate degrees.
2. Answer the following questions using the compass rose.
a) 90 from N is:
b) 45 from E is :
c) 180 from NE is:
d) 45 from SW is:
e) between N and NW is:
f) between S and SE is:
g) between NE and SW is:
h) between SW and NE is:
3. State the compass direction midway between the following points.
a) N and S
b) S and N
c) SW and NW
d) SSW and WSW
e) N and SW
f) WSW and SSW
11
4. Name the opposite direction for each of the following compass
points.
a) Southwest (SW)
b) North northwest (NNW)
c) East southeast (ESE)
d) West (W)
e) North northeast (NNE)
f) South (S)
5. In what direction are you traveling when flying from:
a) Toronto to Montreal:
b) Vancouver to Victoria:
c) Victoria to Iqaliut:
d) Yellowknife to Victoria:
e) Saskatoon to Regina:
f) Regina to Winnipeg:
g) St. John’s to Halifax:
h) Sudbury to Thunder Bay:
6. Describe the location of each city within its province following the
example given (e.g. Vancouver: Vancouver is located in the
southwest corner of British Columbia).
a) Winnipeg:
b) Thunder Bay:
c) Edmonton:
d) St. John’s:
e) Regina:
7. Describe the location of each city using nearby features as a
reference (e.g. Toronto: Toronto is located on the northwest shore
of Lake Ontario).
a) Hamilton:
b) Calgary:
c) Halifax:
d) Quebec:
e) Yellowknife:
f) Churchill
12
13
Bearing Assignment
Find the bearing from the square in the centre to each point. Fill in the chart below with your
answers.
Point
Bearing
Point
A
F
B
G
C
H
D
I
E
J
Bearing
14
Latitude & Longitude
If the Earth were flat, rectangular coordinates (x,y) would be
sufficient to describe the locations of points on its surface.
However, Earth is a sphere with no sides, and a special frame of
reference is needed. The poles of Earth provide this reference frame.
Lines of Latitude
EQUATOR – an imaginary line that divides the Earth into 2 equal parts
(Northern & Southern hemispheres)







Are imaginary lines
The Equator is the starting point for latitude lines
Measure the distance North & South of the Equator
Lines are drawn around the Earth, parallel to the Equator
Lines never interest each other
Lines are approximately 111 km apart
Lines are used as political boundaries
15
Lines of Longitude
PRIME MERIDIAN – an imaginary line that divides the Earth into 2
equal parts (Eastern & Western hemispheres)








Are imaginary lines
The Prime Meridian is the starting point for longitude lines
The International Date Line is the 180 meridian
Measure the distance East and West of the Prime Meridian
Lines are drawn from the North Pole to the South Pole
Lines converge at the poles and are furthest apart at the Equator
Longitude lines are longer than latitude lines
Lines are used to determine time zones
ABSOLUTE LOCATION – the location of a point on the Earth using
latitude and longitude lines
Using the latitude & longitude grid we can pinpoint any place on the
Earth. This location is specified by a series of numbers
degrees minutes seconds
44 25 14
16
A Trip Around Canada
Instructions: Use your atlas to develop your skills in latitude and longitude by
filling in the blanks on the exercise below.
Your trip begins at the base of the Peace Tower located in the ___________
Buildings in the city of _________________ (45.5˚N 75.5˚W). From here you
head west to Canada’s nickel capital, _____________ (46.5˚N 81˚W). You
continue to travel west to the railway hub of the west, _____________ (50˚N
97˚W). Following the Trans-Canada Highway, you arrive in a city whose name
means queen in Latin, _____________ (50.5˚N 104.5˚W). Your next stop is in the
city famous for its western fair, called The ________
Stampede (51˚N 114˚W). With the hope of seeing the famous Ogopogo monster in
Lake Okanagan, you spend a few days in the community of ___________ (49.5˚N
119.5˚W). You continue to follow the Trans-Canada Highway to Vancouver,
located at ____________. You take the ferry to Vancouver Island to see the place
where the annual bathtub race starts at _________ (49˚N 124˚W).
Your trip continues northward to _______________, located in the Yukon at 64˚N
139.5˚W. Thousands of people came to this town in 1898 searching for gold.
Another town famous for its gold mines is Yellowknife, located on Great Slave
Lake at ___________. Your next stop is known as the polar bear capital of
Canada. At certain times of the year, polar bears are a tourist attraction. This city,
____________, located at 58.5˚N 94˚W, shares the name of a famous British prime
minister. You find that you really have a craving for some seafood from Atlantic
Canada. You fly over Quebec to the most easterly provincial capital of
17
__________________, located at 47.5˚N 52.5˚W, for a serving of cod tongues.
These are a race delicacy since the cod fishery collapsed in the 1990s. After a
quick flight to Halifax, located at _______________, you find a restaurant that
serves freshly cooked lobster with fresh bread and butter. Heading westward, you
visit the largest island in the Bay of Fundy, ___________________, New
Brunswick, located at 44.5˚N 66.5˚W. It is famous for its edible seaweed, called
dulse. Before leaving New Brunswick you visit the Reversing Falls in
_______________ located at 45.5˚N 66˚W. The centre of French Canada is
______________, located at 47˚N 71˚W. Its old town has been declared a World
Heritage Site by the United Nations. Your last stop is a visit to Canada’s Museum
of Civilization, located in ______________ across the river from Ottawa at 45.5˚N
76˚W.
18
19
Geography of Canada – Time Zones
Colour and Label the “Canada Time Zones” map then answer the following
questions.
1. In which time zone do we live?__________________________________
2. How many time zones does Canada cover?________________________
3. What is different about Newfoundland?___________________________
4. How many hours difference is there between Canada’s most easterly and
most westerly time zones?____________________________________
5. When it is 9:00am in Toronto, what time is it in Vancouver?__________
6. When it is noon in Calgary, what time is it in Fredericton?____________
7. The Toronto Maple Leafs play a game in Vancouver at 8:00pm. What
time would you see the game at your house?____________________
8. An airplane takes 3 hours to fly from Toronto to Calgary. If the plane left
Toronto at 9:30am, what time did it reach its destination?__________
9. Why was an interval of 15 selected for time zones?___________________
10. Which province is the first to receive daylight? Why?_______________
20
Map Scale
Map scale shows the relationship between the distance on a map and
the actual distance on the Earth’s surface.
1. Direct Statement Scale
 Uses words to describe the relationship between a distance
on a map and a specific distance on the Earth’s surface
1 cm to 10 km
or 1 cm = 10 km
2. Linear Scale
 A special RULER on the map that is divided into equal units
of distance
 Always includes the units of measurement on the Earth’s
surface
 Always blocks out units of measurement on the map (the
alternated black blocks on the linear scale)
21
3. Representative Fraction Scale (RF)
 The fraction is a ratio where on unit on the map equals a
specific number of the same unit on the Earth’s surface
 Always done as a ratio or fraction of 1
1:50,000
**1:50,000 equals 1 cm = 0.5 km
** 1 cm on the map equals 50,000 cm on the Earth’s surface
Conversions
1 km = 1000 m
1 m = 100 cm
1 km = (1,000x100) cm = 1000,000 cm
22
Large and Small Scale Maps
Area
Large
Scale Map
Small
Detail
A Lot
(streets, schools,
railways, farms,
marshes)
Houses
Shown?
Example
Topographical
Map
Yes
Road Map
City Bus Map
Small
Scale Map
Large
A Little
(borders, lakes,
large rivers)
Globe
No
World Map
Atlas
Some things to consider:
 Why are maps useful tools?
 How do maps help focus the reader’s attention on just a few
specific things?
 What would be the main uses for a Large-Scale Map?
 What would be the main uses for a Small-Scale Map?
23
24
25
26
Types of Maps
Road Maps
 A map drawn to scale using
symbols and colours to indicate
major highways and road for
transportation purposes
 Can be both small scale (Canadian
road map) & large scale (city map)
 Several other features are shown
including: parks, hospitals
Topographical Maps
 A map that indicates to scale, using
symbols and colours for both
natural and human features on the
Earth’s surface
 Shows the Earth’s surface in great
detail (large scale)
 Depicts the height of land features
(topography)
 Map shows roads, settlements,
vegetation cover, power lines etc.
Thematic Maps
 A map that reveals the geographic
patterns of statistical data
 Are designed to display
distributions, or patterns over the
Earth’s surface
 Usually focus on one theme or topic
such as population or rainfall
27
Thornbury Topographic Map Study
Fill in the blanks below using the topographic map on page 25 of Making Connections.
You are on a trip through Southern Ontario (north of Toronto). Your topographic map shows the
highway you are on in square 4136. It is Highway _____. The closest town is_____________.
The river that runs through this town is called________________________. The arean in the
town is located in square _________(four-digit reference). You decide to go for lunch in the
town of Clarksburg which is located mainly in square _____ (four-digit reference). You are now
ready to explore the region and to do a little research. Your first stop is located at 4133, which is
an____________. You then persuade your parents to take you on a hike at a local conservation
area, Clendenan, which is located to the _______ (compass direction) of your present location.
Three physical features in this area include _________, _____________, and______________.
You head east for the Blue Mountains. The elevation of the contour line that the red G is
pointing to is ________. You head north to H, and the contour line pointed out by H is _______.
You make your way further east to visit a park, which here is known as ___________________.
The name of the conservation area you have entered is __________________. You’ve had a
long day, and need a place to stay. You go to the nearest motel which is found in square ______.
Also answer these questions about the same map:
1. What does the colour green indicate? __________________________________________
2. Can you find the marshland? What is the reference? _____________
3. What is the elevation of the road at 4533? __________
4. In which direction does the Indian Brook flow?_____________
5. How did you determine the direction of the Indian Brook flow?_______________________
____________________________________________________________________________
6. What features are found at the following letters? A)________ B)____________
C)____________ D)__________E)____________F___________
28