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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Different Types of Maps
Climate
Political

5. More Types of Maps
Rainfall
Population Density

6. Map #1

7. Map #2