Parts of a Map

1. Parts of a Map By Miss Zardeskas

2. In this activity you will: • Learn about the elements of a map: title, compass rose, boundaries, insert map, scale, latitude and longitude, hemispheres, and the key/legend. • Write a paragraph describing the parts of a map. Tell the function of each part in reading a map.

3. Title • Every map should have a title. • We need to know what the map is representing! • Just like you, a map needs a name too! What’s my name? Who am I?

4. Compass • A compass is a tool that helps the user know what direction he or she is headed. • On a map, a compass or a compass rose helps the user locate direction.

5. Compass Rose • The needle on a compass is magnetized to point to the Earth's magnetic north pole. Thus with a compass, a person can roughly tell which direction they are headed. • There are four major or cardinal directions on a compass- north, south, east & west.

6. Directions • The cardinal directions are north, south, east, and west. • In between are the directions northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest. • They help describe the location of places in relation to other places.

7. Scale • Maps are made to scale; that is, they tell the distance between places on a map.

8. Scale

9. Religions Legend Map Legends • The legend is the key to unlocking the secrets of a map. Objects, symbols or colors in the legend represent something on the map.

10. Can you understand this legend?

11. Legend Age Expectancy Around the World

12. Latitude and Longitude • The earth is divided into lots of lines called latitude and longitude.

13. Lines • Longitude lines run north and south. (the LONG sides of the ladder) • Latitude lines run east and west. (the steps of the ladder) • The lines measure distances in degrees. Longitude Latitude

14. Where is 0 degree? • The Equator is 0 degree latitude. • It is an imaginary “belt,” or line, that runs halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole. Equator

15. P R I M E M E R I D I A N Where is 0 degree? • The prime meridian is 0 degrees longitude. This imaginary line runs through England, France, Spain, western Africa, and Antarctica.

17. Hemispheres • By using the Equator and Prime Meridian, we can divide the world into four hemispheres: • The Northern Hemisphere • The Southern Hemisphere • The Eastern Hemisphere • The Western Hemisphere

19. Time Zones • The Earth is divided into 24 time zones, corresponding to 24 hours in a day. • As the earth rotates, the sun shines in different areas, moving from east to west during the course of a day. • Places that have the same longitude will be in the same time zone.

21. Boundaries • Some maps have boundaries. • A boundary is something that indicates a border or limit. What boundaries does this map show?

22. Inset Map • Some maps have a small map inside the larger map called an inset map. What is in the inset map on the map to the right?

23. Writing Activity • Now that you know the different parts of a map, write a paragraph describing at least 3 major components that should always be on a good map. Name the parts and tell why the map needs it. In other words, why is that part important on the map? http://jc-schools.net/write/socst/readingmaps.ppt