Ln-8 CW Understanding Maps

1. Vocabulary:
a. compass
b. legend
c. Thematic map
d. Political map
e. Physical map
f. directions

2. What is a Map?
A map is a symbolic representation of selected characteristics of a place, usually drawn on a flat surface. Maps present
information about the world in a simple, visual way. They teach about the sizes, shapes of countries, locations of features and
distances between places.
Eg. A map can show exact locations of houses and streets in a city neighbourhood.

3. What are the elements of a map?

The elements of a map are a title, a legend, a grid, a compass- to indicate the direction and a scale.

4. What is compass?
It is an instrument used to find out main directions. Its magnetic needle always points towards north-south direction.

5. What is an Atlas?
When many maps are put together we get an Atlas.

6. When should we use a globe?

A globe can be useful when we want to study the earth as a whole.

 Political Map: for a country- It shows political features, capital cities and major towns etc.
 Physical Map: for a country- It shows physical features, major landforms like mountains, rivers and oceans etc.
 Thematic Maps: for a country – It shows specific features of an area such as rainfall, vegetation and mineral deposits etc.
 Conventional Symbols and Signs: It shows different features on a map but is not drawn to scale. Symbols can be used to
depict features like cities, roads and railways etc.
 Legend or Key: A key or a legend is a list of symbols that appear on the map. The key is part of the map legend. The key
explains the symbols while the legend holds the key and other information.

 Scale: all maps are models of reality. A map’s scale indicates the relationship between the distances on the map and the
actual distances on Earth. This relationship can be expressed by a graphic scale, a verbal scale.
 Graphic sale or bar scale: looks like a ruler, a line marked horizontally in miles, or some other unit measuring distance.
 Verbal scale : is a sentence that relates distance, like for example, “one centimeter represents one kilometer”
 Cartographer: a person who draws or produces or makes map.
 Cartography: The art of map making.
 Cardinal directions: North, South, East and West.
 Intermediate directions: northeast(NE), southeast(SE), southwest(SW) and northwest(NW)

Write the differences between Globe and Map on your own: