3rd Grade Introduction to Map Features

​What's a Map?

What do we know about maps?​

Open Ended

Maps are small drawings of large areas. People use maps to find places and to learn how to get from one place to another. Maps can also inform you about boundaries, landscapes, products produced, and many other things.

Reading a Map Title​

​The FIRST thing you should look at on a map is its title.

The title of a map tells you what the map shows​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Fill in the Blanks

Using a Compass Rose​

An important part of a map is the compass rose. A compass rose is a circle with lines that point to the cardinal directions (north, east, south, west). Usually the top of the map is the north.​

Subject | Subject

bottom is south, left is west, and right is east

Multiple Choice

What direction is missing from the compass rose?

• North

• East

• South

• West

Draw

Draw the cardinal directions on the compass rose

There are other directions on a compass rose. They are called the intermediate directions. They are between the cardinal direction points.​

​

They are northwest, northeast, southeast, southwest

​But wait.... there's more!

​

Draw

Let's try this again. Draw the directions on the compass rose (all 8 of them)

It shows you how to "unlock" the map's meaning. A key is a box that tells what the map is showing. ​

The Key

​Using a Map Key

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

What does the red cross symbol mean?

• beach

• hotel

• airport

• hospital

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

What symbol stands for bench?

• The brown rectangle

• The green tree

• The blue pond

• the brown triangle