1. Subject: Geography Topic: Where are we?--- Basic Map Reading Skills
for Secondary 2 students

2. Prepared by:
Lai Ka Man, Jenny
LED 1/4

3. Introduction : Objectives :
This presentation is mainly for Secondary 2 students, who have
obtained a certain level of map reading skills before, such as the
basic directions (North, East South, West), and map symbols.
These slides are best accompanied by the use of a map reading
exercise book and it is mainly for lecture.
Objectives :
Map is an useful tool for us to locate the places we don’t know.
It can also tell us the features of the place, such as the relief, land
use and settlements.. In this presentation, we will learn the way of
using the Grid System, Scale and Direction, so that we can apply
them when traveling and hiking…etc.

4. Part one -- Grid Square and Grid Reference
To locate places on a large-scale map, we use the Grid
System. This consists of vertical lines called Eastings
and horizontal lines called Northings.
Northings
Eastings

5. When we read a map and grid reference lines, we always look
at the Eastings first(the vertical lines), from left to right.
Then we look at the Northings (the horizontal lines), from the
bottom to the top. 91
Northings
From bottom to the top 90 80 81
Eastings
From left to right
Read Easting FIRST

6. First, we look at the Easting, it’s between
We try to locate a place by looking in the the Eastings and Northings
How can we express the location of
the blue dot in the grid reference?
First, we look at the Easting, it’s between
“80” and “81”. Since we read Easting
from left to right, therefore, the blue dot
is in the “80” area.
Then, we read the Northings, from the
bottom to the top. The blue dot is between 91 90 80 81
“90” and “91”, but it still has not reached the “91” line, so we say that
the dot is in the “90” area”. Hence, we can have a conclusion that the
grid square of the blue dot is “8090”.
Grid Square of the blue dot: 8090

7. Sometimes, when indicating some features, the grid square is not
accurate and precise enough. As you can see from the grid square
below, there are two dots in the same grid square (1082), we cannot
distinguish the actual locations of the dots. In this case, we have to use
a more precise method called Grid Reference. 83 83 82 82 10 11 10 11
Grid Square
Grid Reference

8. In a Grid Reference, we subdivide the Eastings and
Northings into 10 more units. The reading method is the same
as Grid Square. However, we add one more figure after the
Easting and Northing.For example, the Easting of the blue
dot below is 106, and its
Northing is 497. Therefore, we
say that the Grid Reference of
the blue dot is
Remember, Grid Reference is
always a 6-figure unit. 50 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 49 10 11

9. Now, let’s have an example on grid square
Now, let’s have an example on grid square. In the following map, what is
the grid square of Science Center (the red circle)?
Hint: read the easting first.
The science Center is at
the east of Easting 25, and
it is north of Northing 63.
So, can you get the answer?
Yes, its grid square is 64 63 62
CUHK
2563 61

10. Part 2-- Scale (2) Representative Fraction (R.F.) (3) Linear Scale
We know that the map shows the images which is much smaller
than the actual ground. How can we know its actual size? We can
know it from Scale.
There are three types of scale:
(1) Statement Scale
(2) Representative Fraction (R.F.)
(3) Linear Scale

11. In this kind of scale, it is expressed in the form of words.
(1) Statement Scale
In this kind of scale, it is expressed in the form of words.
For example, if 1 cm on the map represents 1000 km on the
ground, then, in Statement Scale, we will express as…
1cm to 1000 km
Here, 1 cm is the length on the map, and 1000 km is the
actual distance (length) on the ground.
That simple? Yes! Now we move on to the second kind of scale--
Representative Fraction

12. (2) Representative Fraction
We have the same way of expressing the actual distance on the
ground as Statement Scale, except that we don’t use words but
express as...
1:20000
1:20000 carries that meaning that “1 cm to cm” or
Here, “1” represents the length on the map, while “20000”
represents the actual distance on the ground.
“1 cm = cm ”.
If you see the scale is: “1:15000”, same as the above example, it
means 1 cm = cm cm on the map equals to cm
on the ground .

13. 37 (the line on the map) 500 m (the scale) (3) Linear Scale
In Linear Scale, we can measure the distance directly with the
scale provided on the map.
1000 m
500 meters
In the above scale, we can see that 1 cm on the ruler is equal to
500 m on the scale. Let say, if we have measured a line on the
map is 37 cm long, according to the scale, it is:
37 (the line on the map) x
500 m (the scale)
= m (actual
distance on the ground)

14. Let’s have one more example. This time there is a line on the map
which is 15 cm long. The scale is still 1 cm for 500 m .What is the
actual distance on the ground?
15 (the line on the map)
x 500 m (the scale)
= 7500 m
Since scale is expressed in fraction. Therefore, the larger the
denominator, the smaller the scale. For example,
is larger than 1
Larger scale map shows greater details of the ground but covers a
smaller area. Smaller scale map covers a greater area but less details
CUHK
CUHK
A large scale map
A small scale map

15. Conversion of scale = 1 cm to km 5 cm to 1 km
Scale can be changed from one to another, for example, from
Representative Fraction to statement scale of cm and km.
1: (note that 1 km = cm)
20 000 1 5
20 000
1 cm to
cm to 1 km 5 1 OR 1 =
1 cm to km =
5 cm to 1 km 5

16. From Representative Fraction to Linear scale
2000 m
10 cm
Step 1 : change the R.F. into a statement scale. 1:
Step 2 : calculate the required length of the line.
1 cm to 200 m
therefore : to measure 2 km, the length of the line
= (2 / 200) cm
= 10 cm
1 cm to cm
1 cm to 200 m
1 cm to 0.2 km

17. Part three -- Directions (1) Compass Point (2) Compass Bearing
Direction refers to the relative position between two points
measures with a compass and expressed in terms of compass
readings.
Direction and distance together tell us the exact position of
an object or a place from a point of observation. The direction of
an object can be expressed in three ways.
(1) Compass Point
(2) Compass Bearing
(3) Angular Bearing

18. (1) Compass Point
There are 4 main points, south, east, south, west and subdivide
into 12 more points. There are a total of 16 points as shown below. 0º
315º N
45º
NNW
NNE NE NW
ENE
WNW
270 º W E
90 º
WSW
ESE SW SE
SSW
SSE S
135º
225º
180 º

19. (2) Compass Bearing
To give more accurate direction, compass bearing is used. It is shown by both the directional points (N,E,S and W) and degree. The compass is divided into 4 parts. The directions is read either from the North or the South, but not at the East and West. Therefore, compass bearing can never be greater than 90 º. This is one of the characteristics of compass bearing.
How to determine whether we should use
“N” or “S”? It depends on the point we
measure is closer to N or S. In the figure on
the left, the point we measure is closer to
the South, so we start from the South and
have the compass bearing “S45 º E”. N W E
S45ºE S

20. Let’s have some more examples...N N
N45ºE W E W E
S45 ºW S S N
Remember, Compass Bearing never starts
with “E” or “W” !
N45 ºW W E S

21. (3) Angular Bearing
Angular Bearing shows direction by degrees only. The angle
is measured from the north arrow clockwise. In this kind of
bearing, the smallest is 0 º and the largest is 360 º. N
360 º
Here is one more example. N W E E S
225º S

22. Exercises In the following figures, which one is the grid square?
After learning the three map reading skills, let’s try to do some
exercises. Choose the correct answer and press on the button.
After you have pressed the button, please move the mouse and make its
pointer to appear before you press the mouse again.
In the following figures, which one is the grid square? 83 83 82 82
Figure 1
Figure 2 10 11 10 11
A. Figure 1
B. None of the above
C. Figure 2
D. All of the above

23. A. orange : 8411 green: 8310 B. orange: 1082 green: 1083
What is the grid square of the orange dot and green dot respectively?
A. orange : green: 8310
B. orange: green: 1083
C. orange: green: 1082
D. orange: green: 8211 84 83 82 10 11 12

24. What is the grid reference of South Bank? (Indicated by the blue dot) 46 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 A B C D 45 10 11

25. In the followings, which one is the Representative Fraction?
A. 1 cm to m B.
C. 1: 1
2 km
In the followings, which one is the Linear scale?
A. 1 cm to m B.
C. 1: 1
2 km

26. 1: 50 000 If we change the RF to Statement Scale, which one is the
correct answer? 1:
A m
B. 500 km
C. 500 m
D cm

27. The direction of Point A from Point B is...
A. Northwest
B. Southeast
C. West
D. South A B
The Compass Bearing of Point X from Point Y is...
A. N45º E
B. S45º N
C. S45º W
D. W45º S N Y N X

28. END

29. Correct! Well done!

30. Sorry, please try again!