Map Scale Teacher Resources

Definition of map scale with related cartography links and activity at Mapblast in which students create maps of their own and determine distance and scale.

Details on the different types of maps, scale, and symbols.

In this video segment from TV 411, two Atlanta Hawks players plan a driving route to reach the Basketball Hall of Fame. They use map scales to estimate their travel distances.

Students develop and apply the distance formula and an x-y coordinate plane on a hurricane tracking map, and then use a map scale to determine distance in miles. Then, using MATLAB computer science programming language, students help...

Asteroid Impact is an 8-10 class long (350-450 min) earth science curricular unit where student teams are posed with the scenario that an asteroid will impact earth. They must design the location and size of underground caverns to save...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Use map scales and proportions to solve for unknown distances.

The USGS offers detailed information on Types of Cartograms, Congressional Districts, Software for Cartograms, Publications, and a Carto-Gallery.

This activity serves as an introduction to mapping skills and the classroom. Students will create a map of the classroom, analyze and determine qualities that make a clear, concise map, then create a database of qualities they will use...

Get independent practice working with scale drawings. Each incorrect response gets a text box explanation and another try. Correct responses are confirmed.

This lesson defines the term scale and scale model. It is 2 of 9 in the series titled "Scale."

Students sort photographs of glaciers and measure glacial retreat to observe how alpine glaciers have retreated over the past century. Includes a printable worksheet, links to relevant materials, and extension activities.

In this activity, students will use the scale, the key, and longitude and latitude on a map to determine where they have crashed. They will then use the map scale to determine the distance to the nearest city and how long it will take...

Demonstrates how to use ratios to solve a map scale problem. [1:12]

This QuickTime movie introduces various scales on maps from different perspectives. As you watch and listen to the teacher and student interact it helps clarify the thinking behind applying this concept.

Very detailed site from History Matters containing an explanation of how to read maps and understand them. An excellent resource for teachers. The site covers how to begin, how to use a scale, how to create a flat map for a round world,...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews the basic components of maps: legend, scale, Compass rose and labels. Clips from United Streaming video are included to illustrate these concepts. Student assessment and a student...

This lesson defines the term scale and scale model. It is 3 of 9 in the series titled "Scale."

This lesson defines the term scale and scale model. It is 5 of 9 in the series titled "Scale."

This lesson defines the term scale and scale model. It is 1 of 9 in the series titled "Scale."

This lesson defines the term scale and scale model. It is 4 of 9 in the series titled "Scale."

A cartography media project. Explains what the parts of a map are, some types, and some ways we use maps today. [2:54]

Explains what globes and maps are, and some features of each. [2:24]

A map of Africa showing the continent prior to the Berlin Conference of 1885, when the most powerful countries in Europe at the time convened to make their territorial claims on Africa and establish their colonial borders at the start of...

A map of Asia from 1872, showing physical features including mountain systems, deserts, lakes, rivers with direction of flow, coastal features, and ocean currents, political boundaries and foreign possessions at the time, and commercial...