Mapskills

How do we use maps?

 Contents
What are maps? Compasses . . .

Using Direction Map symbols

4 Figure Grid Refs 6 Figure Grid Refs

Finding heights Distance & Scale

Describing Routes Practice . . . .

 What are maps?

What do you see on the cow?

Maps are a way for us to see what the world looks
like. It is a method that geographers use to locate
different things and to help us find our way from one
place to another
 FACT: You have probably
all used maps at some time in
your life!

Have a brainstorming session

with a partner to try and
think where you have used a
map in the past
Look at the following 5 maps and
write down what and where you
think they show
Map 1: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 2: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 3: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 4: Where is this and what does it show?
Map 5: Where is this and what does it show?
So where are those
places?
 Map 1 is the Mappa  Map 4 is a street map of
Geographica which is a map Ballymena, drawn in 1995
of the world and was drawn Map 5 is a map of the
in 1703 Ballymena area towards
 Map 2 is Northern Ireland Slemish and shows some of
and the map shows the main the local physical features
towns and roads
 Map 3 is a Satellite Image of
the World taken in 2001
So, What are maps?
Maps are used to help us to represent a
place. It allows us to look at the location
and surrounding area and environment of
a place.
Maps can be define as representative of
any part of the earth usually drawn to
scale.
 Types of maps
1. Climate maps: give general information about the
climate and precipitation (rain and snow) of a region.
Cartographers, or mapmakers, use colors to show
different climate or precipitation zones.

2. Economic or resource maps

feature the type of natural resources or economic activity that
dominates an area. Cartographers use symbols to show the
locations of natural resources or economic activities.
For example, oranges on a map of Florida tell you that
oranges are grown there
3. Physical maps
illustrate the physical features of an area, such as the
mountains, rivers and lakes. The water is usually shown in
blue. Colors are used to show relief—differences in land
elevations. Green is typically used at lower elevations, and
orange or brown indicate higher elevations.

4. Political maps
do not show physical features. Instead, they indicate state
and national boundaries and capital and major cities. A
capital city is usually marked with a star within a circle.
5. Road maps
show major—some minor highways—and roads, airports,
railroad tracks, cities and other points of interest in an area.
People use road maps to plan trips and for driving directions.

6. Topographic maps
include contour lines to show the shape and elevation of
an area. Lines that are close together indicate steep
terrain, and lines that are far apart indicate flat terrain.
 Political map
A map that shows all the boundaries of nations and
other political units
 Physical Map
A map that shows mountains, hills, plains, rivers,
lakes, oceans, etc.
 Thematic Map using Colors
A map that shows a particular topic that are
illustrated with colors.
 Thematic Map using Shades
A map that shows a particular topic that are illustrated
with shades of the same color.
 Climate Map
A map that shows the climate of a place - weather it
has season by season, year after year .
 Road Map
A map showing roads, usually for travel by car.
 Topographical Map
A map that shows elevation of a land by the use of
contour lines.
Parts of map
1.Title
2. Compass rose
3. Scale
4. Legend/Key
5. Grid
Title- tells you what the map is and is usually found on the top
or bottom of the map
Scale- the relationship between distance on a map and actual
distance on the earth. Scale may be represented by words
(e.g., “one inch equals one mile”), a ratio or fraction (e.g.,
1:63,360).
Compass Rose- An object that appears on maps to identify
four main directions: North, South, East and West.

Key- is found on the bottom of the map. The map key tells you
what the symbols on the map stand for. Symbols are small
pictures on the map used for representing real things on our
Earth like mountains, hills, and valleys etc. Remember,
symbols don't always look like what they represent in the real
world.
Grid- the set of lines that show coordinates on a map
 Uses of
map
(i) Maps bring out at a glance various geographical ele­ments;
(ii) Maps bring out the relationships amongst geographi­cal
elements;
(iii)Maps are used for investigation and exploration of resources;
(iv) For planning, optimal utilization and develop­ment of
resources;
(v) For seeing many dimensions of a region at one time, thus
helping in regional planning.

(vi) Forecasting and Warning - The weathercaster on

television is but one component of the use of maps to predict
the future of events that play out over the Earth's surface.
 Scale
Scale- the relationship between distance on a
map and actual distance on the earth. Scale may
be represented by words (e.g., “one inch equals
one mile”), a ratio or fraction (e.g., 1:63,360).

The scale indicates the proportion which, a distance

between two points on a map bears to the distance
between the corresponding points on the actual
ground.
When maps are drawn to scale things are made many
times smaller than they really are. Because maps are
important to a lot of people, this process has to be
very accurate.

Every map has its scale printed on the front. It is

usually written like this: 1:25 000. This means that 1
unit of measurement on the map (a centimetre, for
example) represents 25 000 of those same units on
the actual ground the map covers.
Why do maps have different scales?
 Types of Scale
There are three types of scale:
1.Statement scale: This is a scale given in form of a statement and
figures. For example: one centimetre represents two kilometres or
1cm to 2km
2.Linear scale: This is a line drawn to represent the relationship
between the distance on the map and that of the actual distance on
the ground. Linear scale is divided into two parts ,primary division
and secondary division.
3.Representative fraction: in this scale, the distance on the map and
the distance on the ground are expressed are expressed in form of
fraction or ratio. Thus , the distance on the map is the numerator
and is always one (1)while the denominator stands for the distance
on the ground. Both the numerator and denominator are in the
same unit.
 Conversion of one scale to another

In map work, one scale can be converted to

another

(a) Conversion of statement scale to R.F

(b) Conversion from R.F to statement scale

(c) Conversion from Linear scale to Statement

scale/R.F
 Assignment.
1. Convert the following statement scale to
R.F
(a) 1cm to 1km, (b) 2cm to 1km, (c) 1cm to
4km

2. Convert the following R.F to statement

scale
(a) I:50,000 (b) 1:150,000 (c) 1:20,000
Measurement of Direction and Bearing
 Direction.
The direction of one place or object from another is
expressed by means of compass points or cardinal points.
There are four compass points namely: North, South, East
and West.
For better accuracy we can use eight cardinal points.
The 8-point compass
You can make your compass more accurate by adding more
points to it.
By drawing a line in between each of the cardinal points,
you can create an eight- point compass that shows the
directions for north-east (NE), south-east (SE), south-west
(SW) and north-west (NW).
 North
West East

Never
South
Wheat Eat

NW N NE Shredded
W E
SW SE
S
 Procedure for measuring Direction

1. Locate the two places involved on the

map.
2. Place your four cardinal points on the two
places.
3. Using your ruler, join the two places with a
straight line and check which of the eight
cardinal points fall on the line.
4. Extract the position/direction of one of the
place to the other using the eight cardinal
point.
 North

Use Direction sheet 1 and answer the West East

questions
South
Use the map below of the major towns in County
Antrim to work out the directions between each
town.

The map and questions can be found on

Direction Sheet 2

North

West East

South
 Bearing

Bearing is defined as the direction of one place from

another
Bearing is expressed in degrees, using the protractor
measured from North in a clockwise direction.
 Procedure for measuring Bearing

1. Locate the two places involved on the map.

2. Place your four cardinal points on the two
places because you are looking for the
bearing of one of the location to the other.
3. Using your ruler, join the two places with a
straight line.
4. Place your protractor on the side of the line
and the degree which falls on that line
represents the bearing.
It is proper to distinguish the three types of norths in
relation to bearing which aids the orientation of a
place.
(i) True North: This which is derived from(meridian)
of longitude is the direction of the north pole
(ii) Grid North: This the direction which is shown by
north-south grid lines on the map.
(iii)Magnetic North: This is obtained through the use
of magnetic compass.
The angle between the magnetic North and the
true North is called magnetic variation or
declination.
 MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE
.

Distance on a map is the interval between two

points on a map.
It can either be
(i) straight distance
(ii) curve distance
 Measurement of Straight Distances

Examples of straight distant measurement include air route,

crow fly, some straight road, railways etc
Procedure
(i)Locate the places involved in the question on the map.
(ii)Use long ruler to measure the distance between the two
points or places.
(iii)Relate the distance measured on the map to the scale given
and get your ground distance.
Example: Calculate the distance from A to B
using R.F and Linear scale

Solution (i) The distance, using long ruler A to B=5cm

(ii) Scale of map = 1:100,000

(iii) Relating 5cm to R.F

5cm × 100,000 scale of map
100,000 conversion rate
= 5km

(iv) Relating 5cm to linear scale: Stretch the 5cm along the
scale to the right and start from (0), then 5cm mark
end at exactly 5km.
Answer in R.F= 5km while linear scale= 5km
 Measurement of Curved Distances

Examples of curved distance are found in roads, railways

lines, rivers or footpath.
This can be done with either;
(i) The use of a pair of divider
(ii) The use of a piece of white thread
(iii) The use of a straight edge of paper.
 The use of a piece of white thread

This method is strongly recommended for students because

it is easier than the others.
Procedure
(i)Locate the places involved in the question on the map.
(ii)Stretch a peace of white thread along the route or curve
that is to be measured.
(iii)Carefully follow all curves and bends
(iv)Do not allow the thread to move or stretch out of the
route.
(v)Mark the beginning and end of the distance on the thread
with a biro or pencil and transfer it to the linear scale or
calculate the distance instatement or R.F scales
 Assignment
1. If the map distance is 12cm and the scale of the map is
2cm to 1km or 1: 50,000 in R.F, calculate the actual
ground distance using both scales.
2. If the map distance is 10cm and the scale of the map is
1: 150,000 in R.F, calculate the actual ground distance
using both scales.
3. If the ground distance between two towns is 30km and
the scale of the map is 1cm to 2km( on statement) or
1:200,000 in R.F, calculate the map distance.
4. Calculate the area of a map whose length is 6cm and
width 4cm.The map scale is given is 2cm to 1km or
1:50,000.
5. If the map distance is 4cm and the scale of the map is
1: 100,000 in R.F, calculate the actual ground distance
using both scales
THE GRID REFERENCE
SYSTEM
The grid is a system of numbered squares, formed
by vertical and horizontal lines and usually shown
on a map surfaces.

It enables us to determine the position of a place

accurately.

They also help the map reader to reduce or enlarge

the original map extract to a given size
Vertical grid lines are numbered eastward and are
called eastings because they increase in value
eastward.
Horizontal grid lines are called northings because
they increase in value northward.
The combination of eastings and northings
produces a four- figure or six –figure grid
reference .
How do we use map symbols?
 Why do we use symbols?
When drawing a map to scale it is important to include as
much detail as possible – however not all the detail will fit
on the map so we have to use a key of different symbols,
abbreviations and letters to represent the main items on the
map .

Symbols help us to include lots of detail on maps that are

drawn to scale. They include simple images, letters and
abbreviations. Here are some examples
Map symbols
1. ... 2. 3.

Caravan Park Information Office Golf club/course

4. 5.

Telephone Battlefield site

6. 7. 8. CG

Lighthouse Picnic site Coastguard

9. 10.

Primary Road (A Road) Rail station

Think about it this way . . . .

 Imagine that you have to

draw a map that shows the
route from your house to the
school – but you are not
allowed any words . . .this
means that we need to use
symbols to show what we
would pass on the way . . .
 Do you know any map symbols?

Draw a symbol on the board and then write below what it is!
 Quick Quiz –

6. 7. 8. CG

9. 10.

So what do they all mean?

Now you need to look at the list of the
main map symbols
These can be found at Page 124 in your textbook
They can be found on most OS maps
Or you will be given a sheet with the same symbols on
it
You need to learn some of the main symbols for
homework
Homework for
Learn 4 of the sections of the symbols
Tourist Information
Water features
General Features
Abbreviations & Antiquities
This is an Ordnance Survey map of the area around Ballymena.
What different symbols can you see on this map?
Symbols Activity 1
Use the map from the previous slide and along
with Symbols sheet 1, answer the questions
about the use of symbols on local maps.
Symbols Activity 2
Draw a map of the area where you live on A3
paper and try to include as much detail as
possible. You must note all of the key features
in the area – phone boxes, buildings, roads,
railway lines, bus stations etc.

The only problem is that you must draw this

map using ONLY the symbols that you have
learnt and been shown
How can we use 4 Figure Grid
References?
You have already looked at the symbols on this map but the blue
lines on the map also help us to find exact places on the map
How can you describe
where these places
are using a Grid?

14
To find the grid square
that each of the symbols
are found in –
13
Go along the corridor
and then up the stairs
ACROSS AND THEN 12
UP
Along = 02
Up = 11 GR = 02 11 11
01 02 03 04
Answer these
questions in your
books

14
Is in square _____
Is in square _____
Is in square _____
13
Is in square _____
Is in square _____
Is in square _____ 12

11
01 02 03 04
Activity – Use a OS Map

Use any OS map – perhaps of your local

area and try to find as many interesting
features and places as possible and give
their 4 figure Grid References.
How can we use 6 Figure Grid
References?
22

21

20
12 13 14
22

21
13 14
220
219

218
217
216
215
214
213
212
211
2 10
130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140
 Lost Addresses

A Thinking skills Activity

 Lost Addresses
Patrick has a problem. He works as a
postman in Larne and he has just received a
batch of parcels that he must deliver as
quickly as possible. The problem is that
before he goes out in his van to deliver the 10
parcels he must work out where the parcels
will be delivered and mark the 6-figure grid
reference in the space below.

When this is done, see if you can work out

what the best route that Patrick might use to
get his parcels delivered as quickly as
possible.
Parcel 1 Tappagh TV Mast Station

Parcel 2 Olderfleet Castle

Parcel 3 Seacourt House

Parcel 4 Glynn School

Parcel 5 Larne Swimming Pool

Patrick now needs your help to plot the route he will use to
deliver these. Using the copy of the map that you have
follow the instructions below.
1 Put an X on the map to show where all the places that
Patrick has to visit are found
2 Now join the places up by colouring in the roads that
Patrick will use to go from one place to the other.
3 Finally, Plan the route out into your Geography book.
Write your route up like this
Patrick will start by delivering his first parcel to
___________ at GR __________. He will then travel
________ (what direction) to _______________ at GR
__________. He will then travel ________ (what direction)
to ________________ at GR __________________ . . . etc
Lost Addresses Homework Activity
For Homework for ___________
Complete the Lost Addresses Homework Activity
(finding the places) and make sure that you write your
own description of where you would live
 Finding Heights
How can we measure relief on a map?
On this map – how are the heights of
different places shown?
 Layer Colouring
Areas of the same
Spot Heights height are shaded
These give the a different colour
exact height of a
place on the map.
They are shown as 320
a black dot with a
number alongside. 270
The heights are 90 100
given in metres
Contours
These are lines that
are drawn onto a
map and they join
up places that are 300
the same height. 200
The heights are 100
given in metres
Height Activity 1

Use the map on the next page and the one

on Height Sheet 1 to help you to answer a
few questions
Height Activity 2
The more that you use the maps the
more that you will be able to read the
contours, heights and colours that are
shown on a map

Take a look at a local map and try to

see where the highest points are the be
found and the places with the steepest
slopes.
 Distance and Scale

How can we work out distances on a map?

Maps cannot be the same size as the objects
are in reality or they would not fit on the
page! Therefore we use scale to show the
real distances between places by making
everything smaller.
If you want to find out the distance between two places
on a map there are 2 methods to use. One method
looks at the straight line distance (as the crow flies) and
the other measures the actual distance, by road, river
etc, and usually involves going down bendy lines.
Measuring a straight line distance

This is very simple to use.

1. Use your ruler to rule the distance
between the 2 places
2. Then compare your answer to the scale
of the map (This is usually in the bottom
corner of the map and for most maps that
you use this will be 1cm = 50,000cm
(0.5Km)
 Measuring around a bend
This is a bit more complicated. You need to use a
piece of scrap paper to use to find out the
distances.
1. Find the first straight edge and lay the paper down
along side the road that you are measuring
2. Mark on the start and end point
3. Find the next straight edge and continue the
measurement
4. Continue this until the road is fully measured and
then use your ruler and scale to work out the final
distance
Describing Routes
How did you get here?
It is very important that you learn to use all
your skills in using maps to look at a map
and think about all of the things that you
will pass on your way from one place to
another.

You must imagine that you are actually

taking that route . . . . . .
The Fugitive

The Fugitive is a Thinking skills exercise

where you will hear a tape of a radio
broadcast that takes place following the
escape by a known criminal from the local
prison. Your job is to use the descriptions o
track down where he has got to . . . . .

Use ‘The Fugitive’ sheets