Reading a Map: Legends, Symbols, and Compass Rose: Second Grade Social Studies

Reading a map requires understanding its essential parts, including the map title, legend or key, symbols, and compass rose, which unlock its geographical information.

The Language of Maps

Maps are visual languages. Instead of using long paragraphs of text to describe an area, a mapmaker uses drawings, lines, colors, and symbols to communicate information quickly and clearly. Learning how to read these visual clues allows you to explore any part of the world.

The Four Essential Parts of Every Map

Most maps include four standard elements that guide the reader: a title, a legend, a compass rose, and a scale.

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                     PARTS OF A MAP                          |
|                                                             |
|   TITLE: Tells what area and topic the map shows            |
|                                                             |
|   COMPASS ROSE: Shows directions (North, South, East, West) |
|                                                             |
|   LEGEND / KEY: Explains the meaning of symbols and colors  |
|                                                             |
|   SCALE: Shows the relationship between map inches & miles  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

The Title: What Are We Looking At?

The map title is usually placed prominently at the top. It tells the reader what area is shown and what theme is being presented. A title might read "City of Oakridge: Public Parks and Trails" or "State of Colorado: Major Rivers and Mountains." Always read the title first so you know the map's purpose.

Understanding the Map Legend or Key

The map legend, often called the map key, is a boxed guide that unlocks the meaning of every symbol, color, and line used on the map.

+--------------------------+
|         MAP KEY          |
+--------------------------+
|  [H]  = Hospital         |
|  [P]  = Public Park      |
|  (S)  = School           |
|  ===  = Paved Highway    |
|  ---  = Hiking Trail     |
|  ~~~~ = River or Stream  |
+--------------------------+

Symbols: Pictures with Meaning

A symbol is a small picture, shape, or letter that stands for a real-world object. Mapmakers choose intuitive symbols so readers can recognize them quickly. An airplane symbol indicates an airport; a tent symbol marks a campground; a small cross or the letter H indicates a hospital; and a picnic table represents a park picnic area.

Colors as Meaningful Clues

Colors on maps carry specific meanings. Blue almost always represents water, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. Green typically indicates forests, parks, or grassy plains. Brown or tan shows high elevation, deserts, or mountain ranges. Black lines usually represent roads, highways, or boundary borders between towns and states.

The Compass Rose: Finding Directions

A compass rose is a design printed on a map that shows the cardinal directions, orienting the reader to which way is north, south, east, and west.

                  N (North)
                     |
                     |
     W (West) -------+------- E (East)
                     |
                     |
                  S (South)

Cardinal Directions

The four main directions are known as the cardinal directions. North points toward the top of most standard maps, South points toward the bottom, East points to the right, and West points to the left. A simple phrase to remember their clockwise order is: Never Eat Soggy Waffles (North, East, South, West).

Intermediate Directions

Between the cardinal directions lie intermediate directions, which give more precise guidance.

                 N
           NW    |    NE
             \   |   /
              \  |  /
       W ------+------ E
              /  |               /   |              SW    |    SE
                 S

Northeast (NE) is halfway between north and east. Northwest (NW) is halfway between north and west. Southeast (SE) is halfway between south and east. Southwest (SW) is halfway between south and west.

Map Scale: Measuring Distance

A map is much smaller than the actual ground it depicts. The map scale explains the relationship between distance on the map and actual distance on the Earth.

Using a Simple Bar Scale

A bar scale looks like a small ruler printed in the corner of the map. For example, one inch on the map might represent one mile in the real world. You can use your fingers or a strip of paper to measure the distance between the school and the library on the map, then compare it to the scale bar to find out how many miles apart they are in reality.

Exercises and Review

Exercise 1: Explain the purpose of a map key or legend and describe how symbols and colors help a map reader.

Exercise 1 Solution: The purpose of a map key or legend is to explain the meaning of every symbol, line, and color used on a map. Symbols help the reader by using small, recognizable drawings, such as an airplane for an airport or a tent for a campground, to show where important places are without cluttering the map with long text. Colors help by giving instant visual clues, such as blue for lakes and oceans, green for parks and forests, and black lines for roads.

Exercise 2: Draw the layout of a compass rose using words and explain the difference between cardinal directions and intermediate directions.

Exercise 2 Solution: A compass rose has North pointing straight up, South pointing straight down, East pointing directly right, and West pointing directly left. The cardinal directions are the four main directions: North, South, East, and West. The intermediate directions are the directions that lie halfway between each cardinal point: Northeast between North and East, Northwest between North and West, Southeast between South and East, and Southwest between South and West.