Map Reading Skills

Skill lesson pages A2-A3

Who cares if I can read a map??

Not only is it required for you to learn this in 5th grade, but you will also thank me for it when you are driving across country to go to college

Maps have a ton of useful information about the world around you

Great, you’ve convinced me it’s important. Now, what is it?

Maps show all or part of the Earth’s surface. The mapmakers, or cartographers, add in

special features so that the map is more user-friendly These include:

Insets, Grid Systems, Map Titles, Map Key, Locator, Map Scale, and Compass Rose

Map Titles A map title may identify what kind of map it is, but it

is mainly used to tell the subject of the map There are different kinds of maps. Here are a few…

Political-maps that show cities, states, and countries Physical-maps that show geographical features like bodies

of water, mountain ranges, and regions Historical-maps that show what things USED to look like Contour-maps that illustrate the topography of a region Population Density-maps that show the population of an

area Natural Resource-maps that show information about the

natural resources available in an area

Activity

Together we will complete different types of map handouts.

On your own, you are creating a physical map which is your project at home.

Inset

An inset is used to show details for a smaller area than the scale of the map will allow

It looks like a small map within a larger map The inset is good for showing things that are

further away than the scale of the map will allow

Map Key

A map key tells you what any symbols (like colors, lines, or patterns) mean

Compass Rose

This shows two different types of directions Cardinal Directions-the main directions-North,

South, East, and West Intermediate Directions-the directions between

the cardinal directions-Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest

Activity

In the output page, you will cut, label, and glue in the compass rose.

Together we will complete a map reading skills page called “Parts of a Map.”

You will complete a map reading skills page called “Reading a Map” and “The Map Key” on your own for a grade.

Locator

Not found on all maps This is a globe, or a larger world map, that

shows the hemisphere or general area this map is located

Map Scale

A map scale is what is used to help you figure out the real distance between two points on the map

Practice-Use the map on A2-A3

What cities can be found in square B7? Montpelier, Vermont, and Augusta

In which direction would you travel to go from Phoenix, Arizona, to Columbia, South Carolina? East

About how many miles is it from Austin, Texas, to Montgomery, Alabama? About 400 miles

Which two oceans border Alaska? Arctic Ocean and Pacific Ocean

Activity

Together we will complete “Read a Map”

Now you will complete “Map Skills” for a grade.

Grid Systems

When the cartographer draws horizontal and vertical lines on a map, he or she is creating a grid system to help with finding location

In your book the horizontal lines are lettered and the vertical lines are numbered

These are also called Latitude and Longitude which are labeled with numbers going east/west and north/south.

Latitude & Longitude pg 50-51

Latitude, Longitude, what’s the diff? Think of Longitude going the long way

(vertical). Now I know the Earth is a sphere and therefore, there is no “long” way, but work with me here….

Latitudes, also called parallels, are “laid back” – that is, they are laying down (horizontal).

Why should you care? These lines are used to find an absolute location.

Ships and aircraft use latitude and longitude to describe their precise location.

Latitude

These lines run East and West, but they measure how far North or South a place is from the equator

The Latitude of the Equator is 0° (zero degrees)

The lines north of the equator are marked N, which shows they are in the Northern Hemisphere. Latitude lines south of the Equator are labeled S, which shows they are in the Southern Hemisphere.

Longitude

Longitude lines are also called meridians These lines run from the North Pole to the South

Pole, and they help measure how far East or West a particular location is from the prime meridian

The prime meridian is marked 0° Lines that are west of the prime meridian are

marked W which shows they reside in the Western Hemisphere. Lines that are east of the prime meridian are marked E for the Eastern Hemisphere.

Practice-Use the map on pg 51

What line of latitude is closest to Tallahassee, Florida? 30°N

What line of longitude is closest to Santa Fe, New Mexico? 105°W

Which location is farther north- 50°N, 80°W, or 30°N, 90°W? 50°N, 80°W is farther north

Activity

Together we will complete a hands on activity to demonstrate Latitude and Longitude.

You will complete a Latitude and Longitude worksheet for a grade.