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Geoscience Australia: Map Reading Guide: How to Use Topographic Maps [Pdf]
A topographic map can be challenging to read. This guide explains how to decipher one and how to use a magnetic compass to orient yourself to the landscape. It also explains how to use GPS coordinates.
Soft Schools
Soft Schools: Geography/map Skills Quiz
In this ten question quiz, students can assess their understanding of key geographical features on maps.
Other
Ordnance Survey: Map Zone: Measuring Distance
Read how to measure distance on maps using straight lines, string, or a ruler in order to strengthen students' mapping skills.
Other
La Rue Literacy Exercises: Reading a Map: Quiz 12
In this quiz, students are given sections of a map with locations like the school, post office, back, etc. They are asked questions about directions from one place to the other.
Other
Usps: The Flags of Our Nation: All Over the Map
This activity reinforces students' geographic, directional, and map skills while conveying interesting facts and state trivia.
Other
Map Zone: Compasses and Directions
Sharpen map skills by exploring these map pages. Learn about the compass rose, different norths, and how to use a compass.
BBC
Bbc: Landscapes: Map Skills: Grid References
Young map readers will learn the idea of referring to the grid numbers to help find locations or to describe locations on a map.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Map Skills Germany
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson map skills are reinforced by identifying physical features in Germany. Mountains, rivers, lakes, and land elevation are discussed. Political maps identify population and cities.
Other
Ordnance Survey: Map Zone
All kinds of fun and interesting ways to learn about maps and acquire mapping skills.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Capture the Flag
This lesson requires students to read maps in order to play the game capture the flag.
SMART Technologies
Smart: Geography Unit: Maps
This geography unit is designed to follow the 1st Grade geography skills required in Virginia. Students are expected to use cardinal directions, read map keys and understand map symbols, as well as identify our city and capital.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Bridging World History: Maps, Time, and World History
Learn how map projections and chronological constructs are used in the study of world history and help us to understand and interpret the past. Part of a larger site on world history, this unit on maps offers complete reading,...
Other
Map Zone: Starting Mapping
Discover the basics of mapping by reading about what maps are, what they provide, how to fold them, and how to use them properly. Content focuses on Great Britain.
Other
Ordnance Survey: Map Zone: Relief and Contour Lines
Discover how to read and show height on maps using relief and contour lines.
Read Works
Read Works: How to Draw a Map Passage & Question Set
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage explains how to draw a map. This passage reinforces essential reading comprehension skills. Opportunities for vocabulary acquisition are also included. Several questions...
Curated OER
History Matters: Making Sense of Maps
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,...
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Mapping the New World
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read primary source documents to solve a problem surrounding a historical question. This document-based inquiry lesson allows students study two 17th-century maps of Virginia and think...
Read Works
Read Works: Maps
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about maps and how they are used. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: How to Draw a Map
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about how to draw a map. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: John Wesley Powell Maps the Grand Canyon
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read natural historian John Wesley Powell and his men who worked to create a map of the Grand Canyon. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Mapping the West: The Journey of Lewis and Clark
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Lewis and Clark exploring the Louisiana Purchase. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: The Treasure Map
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a little boy who goes on a treasure hunt through the park. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: The Variety of Maps
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about many different types of maps and the people who make them. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
PBS
Pbs: The Roman Empire of the 1st Century: Mapping an Empire
In this lesson, students will compare a map of the Roman Empire in 44 BC with one of the Roman Empire in 116 AD. Using these two maps as a reference, students will use critical reading skills to learn about the expansion of the Roman...