Mapskills
How do we use maps?
Contents
What are maps?
Compasses . . .
Using Direction
Map symbols
4 Figure Grid Refs
6 Figure Grid Refs
Finding heights
Distance & Scale
Describing Routes
Practice . . . .
What are maps?
What do you see on the cow?
Maps are a way for us to see what the world looks
like. It is a method that geographers use to locate
different things and to help us find our way from one
place to another
FACT: You have probably
all used maps at some
time in your life!
Have a brainstorming
session with a partner to
try and think where you
have used a map in the
past
Look at the following 5 maps
and write down what and
where you think they show
Map 1: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 2: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 3: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 4: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 5: Where is this and what does it show?
So where are those
places?



Map 1 is the Mappa
Geographica which is a
map of the world and was
drawn in 1703
Map 2 is Northern Ireland
and the map shows the
main towns and roads
Map 3 is a Satellite Image
of the World taken in
2001
 Map 4 is a street map of
Ballymena, drawn in 1995
Map 5 is a map of the
Ballymena area towards
Slemish and shows some of
the local physical features
So, What are maps?
Maps are used to help us to
represent a place. It allows us to
look at the location and
surrounding area and environment
of a place.
Compasses
Compasses are used to show
the direction of places on maps.
This is very important so that
we can know how to use the
map to move from one place to
another.
There are 2 types of compass
that you should use . . . .
North
West
East
Never
South
Wheat
NW N
NE
E
W
SE
SW
S
Eat
Shredded
Using Direction
When people move from one place to another
they will describe their movement by using the
directions that allowed them to travel.
To practice this there are a few exercises over
the next pages to help you to practice your
direction-finding skills.
North
Use Direction sheet 1 and answer the
questions
West
East
South
Use the map below of the major towns in County
Antrim to work out the directions between each
town.
The map and questions can be found on
Direction Sheet 2
North
West
East
South
How do we use map symbols?
Page 112 and 113 in Key Geography – New
Foundations
Why do we use symbols?

When drawing a map to scale it is
important to include as much detail as
possible – however not all the detail will
fit on the map so we have to use a key of
different symbols, abbreviations and
letters to represent the main items on
the map
Think about it this way . . . .

Imagine that you have to
draw a map that shows
the route from your
house to the school – but
you are not allowed any
words . . .this means that
we need to use symbols
to show what we would
pass on the way . . .
Do you know any map
symbols?
Draw a symbol on the board and then write below what it is!
Quick Quiz –
On a page at the back of your book - write down what
you think of the following symbols means
There are 10 of these to guess – if you don’t have an idea - have a go! But
do remember that you are trying to think of things that might be shown on
a map!
1.
3.
2.
5.
4.
Quick Quiz –
6.
7.
9.
8.
10.
So what do they all mean?
CG
. .The
.
Answers
Make sure that you are marking somebody else’s
answers and then here they come . . . .
2.
1.
Caravan Park
3.
Information Office
Golf club/course
5.
4.
Telephone
Battlefield site
6.
7.
Lighthouse
8.
Picnic site
9.
Coastguard
10.
Primary Road (A Road)
How many did you get?
CG
Rail station
Now you need to look at the
list of the main map symbols




These can be found at Page 124 in your
textbook
They can be found on most OS maps
Or you will be given a sheet with the
same symbols on it
You need to learn some of the main
symbols for homework
Homework for
Learn 4 of the sections of the symbols
 Tourist Information
 Water features
 General Features
 Abbreviations & Antiquities
This is an Ordnance Survey map of the area around Ballymena.
What different symbols can you see on this map?
Symbols Activity 1
Use the map from the previous slide and along
with Symbols sheet 1, answer the questions
about the use of symbols on local maps.
Symbols Activity 2
Draw a map of the area where you live on A3
paper and try to include as much detail as
possible. You must note all of the key features
in the area – phone boxes, buildings, roads,
railway lines, bus stations etc.
The only problem is that you must draw this
map using ONLY the symbols that you have
learnt and been shown
How can we use 4 Figure Grid
References?
You have already looked at the symbols on this map but the blue
lines on the map also help us to find exact places on the map
How can you describe
where these places
are using a Grid?
To find the grid square
that each of the symbols
are found in –
14
13
Go along the corridor
and then up the stairs
ACROSS AND THEN
UP
12
Along = 02
Up = 11 GR = 02 11
11
01
02
03
04
Answer these
questions in your
books
Is in square _____
14
Is in square _____
Is in square _____
13
Is in square _____
Is in square _____
Is in square _____ 12
11
01
02
03
04
Activity – Use a OS Map
Use any OS map – perhaps of your local
area and try to find as many interesting
features and places as possible and give
their 4 figure Grid References.
How can we use 6 Figure Grid
References?
22
21
20
12
13
14
22
21
13
14
220
219
218
217
216
215
214
213
212
211
210
130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138
139
140
Lost Addresses
A Thinking skills Activity
Lost
Addresses
Patrick has a problem. He works as a
postman in Larne and he has just received a
batch of parcels that he must deliver as
quickly as possible. The problem is that
before he goes out in his van to deliver the 10
parcels he must work out where the parcels
will be delivered and mark the 6-figure grid
reference in the space below.
When this is done, see if you can work out
what the best route that Patrick might use to
get his parcels delivered as quickly as
possible.
Parcel 1
Tappagh TV Mast Station
Parcel 2
Olderfleet Castle
Parcel 3
Seacourt House
Parcel 4
Glynn School
Parcel 5
Larne Swimming Pool
Patrick now needs your help to plot the route he will use to
deliver these. Using the copy of the map that you have
follow the instructions below.
1
Put an X on the map to show where all the places that
Patrick has to visit are found
2
Now join the places up by colouring in the roads that
Patrick will use to go from one place to the other.
3
Finally, Plan the route out into your Geography book.
Write your route up like this
Patrick will start by delivering his first parcel to
___________ at GR __________. He will then travel
________ (what direction) to _______________ at GR
__________. He will then travel ________ (what direction)
to ________________ at GR __________________ . . . etc
Lost Addresses Homework
Activity


For Homework for ___________
Complete the Lost Addresses Homework
Activity (finding the places) and make
sure that you write your own description
of where you would live
Finding Heights
How can we measure relief on a map?
On this map – how are the heights of
different places shown?
Layer Colouring
Areas of the same
height are shaded
a different colour
Spot Heights
These give the
exact height of a
place on the map.
They are shown as
a black dot with a
number alongside.
The heights are
given in metres
320
270
90
100
Contours
These are lines that
are drawn onto a
map and they join
up places that are
the same height.
The heights are
given in metres
300
200
100
Height Activity 1
Use the map on the next page and the one
on Height Sheet 1 to help you to answer a
few questions
Height Activity 2
The more that you use the maps the
more that you will be able to read the
contours, heights and colours that are
shown on a map
Take a look at a local map and try to
see where the highest points are the be
found and the places with the steepest
slopes.
Distance and Scale
How can we work out distances on a map?
Maps cannot be the same size as the objects
are in reality or they would not fit on the
page! Therefore we use scale to show the
real distances between places by making
everything smaller.
If you want to find out the distance between two places
on a map there are 2 methods to use. One method
looks at the straight line distance (as the crow flies) and
the other measures the actual distance, by road, river
etc, and usually involves going down bendy lines.
Measuring a straight line
distance
This is very simple to use.
1. Use your ruler to rule the distance
between the 2 places
2. Then compare your answer to the scale
of the map (This is usually in the bottom
corner of the map and for most maps that
you use this will be 1cm = 50,000cm
(0.5Km)
Measuring around a bend
This is a bit more complicated. You need to use a
piece of scrap paper to use to find out the
distances.
1. Find the first straight edge and lay the paper down
along side the road that you are measuring
2. Mark on the start and end point
3. Find the next straight edge and continue the
measurement
4. Continue this until the road is fully measured and
then use your ruler and scale to work out the final
distance
Describing Routes
How did you get here?
It is very important that you learn to use all
your skills in using maps to look at a map
and think about all of the things that you
will pass on your way from one place to
another.
You must imagine that you are actually
taking that route . . . . . .
The Fugitive
The Fugitive is a Thinking skills exercise
where you will hear a tape of a radio
broadcast that takes place following the
escape by a known criminal from the local
prison. Your job is to use the descriptions o
track down where he has got to . . . . .
Use ‘The Fugitive’ sheets