Map Skills Objective: Students will review/learn the different parts of a map and their uses.

A map is a projection of the Earth imposed on a flat surface. Parts of a map include: Title Key or Legend Color code or pattern Scale Compass or Directional Arrows Scale

Purpose/use Map – A map is a useful tool. Obviously, they are used for getting places, but there are many different types of thematic maps like climate, growing seasons, population and more (see slides 4/5). They are also more convenient than a globe because they are portable and can be folded. The big drawback of a map is that is distorts the actually shapes of large landmasses. Title – Informs the reader what the map is about Key or Legend – The key provides the reader with the directions on how to read a map including the meanings of symbols and colors Scale – Informs the reader about how to convert distance on a map to distance on Earth (Example: 1 inch = 100 miles) Compass/Directional Arrows – Tells the reader corresponding directions and intermediate directions (NE, NW, SE and SW) For more on Map Skills, click here: Video on Map Skills

Different Types of Maps Climate Political

More Types of Maps Rainfall Population Density

Map #1

Map #2