Maps and Symbols
First Grade
Caroline LaMagna
Maps are a geographical drawing of a
real place…
Most maps have a Key that explains things
that are used in the map, like colors.
The colors
in this map
are used to
show the
amount of
yearly
rainfall,
dark blue
showing
the most
and red
showing
the least
amount of
rainfall.
Key
Map Key
This key shows that cities on the map
with a population of 100,000 to 499,999
will be marked with a large dot.
The State Capitol will be marked with a
star.
Urban Areas will be yellow.
Interstate Highways will be red.
Lakes will be light blue.
This key also has a scale.
Map with Key
Notice the Interstate Highways are the red lines, Norfolk’s location is marked
with a large dot, and Richmond – the State Capitol – is marked with a star.
Scale?
• Have you ever drawn a
picture of yourself? If you
have, the picture probably
wasn’t as tall as you are in real
life, right?
• If I made a picture of myself,
it might look like this one. (If
I was super, super talented!)
• This picture isn’t as tall as I
am - it is only about 5 inches
tall. It is drawn on a scale.
• The scale is 1 inch = 1 foot.
That means the picture of me
is 5 inches tall, but in real life,
I am 5 feet tall!
Scale
The scale on a map shows the relationship
between the distance on the map and the
distance on the ground.
This scale tells us that every inch on the map
equals 25 miles on the ground.
Maps and Symbols
• We’ve already talked about some
of the colors and symbols that
might be on a map.
• For example:
− Interstates would be drawn
with a different color than
other highways.
− State Capitals would be marked
with a star.
Map of Shawnee County in Kansas
Which city is the
state capital? (hint: it
is marked with a star.)
A.Rossville
B.Maple Hill
C.Topeka
D.Auburn
Topeka is marked
on the map with a
star and it is the
capital of Kansas!
Other Map Symbols
• What about other
places on a map –
like buildings,
airports, and parks?
There are symbols
for those things, too.
• How many of you
have seen signs like
this while riding in a
car?
More Map Symbols
• Well, then you’ve
already seen some of
the symbols that you
might find on a map.
• Some of those
symbols are for:
− Gas Stations
− Restaurants
− Hotels
Symbols on a Map
• Here are some common symbols you might find on a map:
Airport
Restaurant
Library
Museum
Park Parking
Post Office
Picnic Rest
Area RoomsSchool
If you were taking a trip and wanted to
find the nearest rest room on a map, which
of these symbols would you look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
public rest room!
If you were wanted to find the nearest
school on a map of your hometown, which
of these symbols would you look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol used on a
map for the
location of a
school!
If you were taking a trip and wanted to
find the nearest airport on a map, which of
these symbols would you look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of an
airport!
If you were taking a trip and wanted to find
the nearest place to eat on a map, which of
these symbols would you look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of
places to eat!
If you were taking a trip and wanted to find a
park on a map, which of these symbols would
you look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
park!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby
library, which of these symbols would you
look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
library!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby gas
station, which of these symbols would you
look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
gas station!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby
post office, which of these symbols would you
look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
post office!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby
hospital, which of these symbols would you
look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
hospital!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby
place to go swimming, which of these symbols
would you look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
place to go
swimming!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby
police station, which of these symbols would
you look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
police station!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby
telephone, which of these symbols would you
look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
telephone!
If you were looking on a map for a nearby
picnic area, which of these symbols would you
look for?
A.
B.
C.
D.
This is the kind of
symbol normally
used on a map for
the location of a
picnic area!
Which of the following symbols tells you
about the colors and symbols located within
the map?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Map Key tells
you about the
colors and symbols
used in the map!!
Which of the following symbols shows you
the cardinal directions on the map?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Compass
Rose shows you the
Cardinal Directions on
a map – North, South,
East, and West.
Now you know all
about maps and
symbols!
Congratulations,
congratulations,
congratulations!!!