S1 Map Work Skills Unit

Why should we learn map work skills?

Map work skills combine important literacy skills with important numeracy skills, if you’re lucky we might also practice some active health and

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wellbeing skills! These skills are all important to developing ourselves, not only in Geography but in other subjects, in school and outside of school too. We need map work skills to help us find our way around – without them we’d be lost! :-P

What are we going to learn about in this unit?

Learning Objectives: To understand…

the different kinds of maps found in an atlas. how to use and atlas to locate different features in Scotland. how to use an atlas to locate different countries around the world. some facts about the settlement you live in. how to locate places in the world using latitude and longitude. how to use a maps key to recognise different symbols on a map. what a compass is and how we can use it to show direction. how to use 4-figure grid references to locate places or features on a

map. how to build your own map using the map work skills you have

learned. how to use 6-figure grid references to locate places or features on a

map. how height can be shown on a map.

The CfE Experiences and Outcomes you will cover in this unit include:

I can use a range of maps and geographical information systems to gather, interpret and present conclusions and can locate a range of features within Scotland, UK, Europe and the wider world. SOC 3-14a

I can use specialised maps and geographical information systems to identify patterns of human activity and physical processes. SOC 4-14a

Lesson 1: Getting to know ScotlandMaps show what things look like from above. They are very useful because they give information and show where places are. There are many different types of map. These include street maps, road maps, atlas maps, and ordnance survey (O.S.) maps.

These maps can be used to show physical features like relief, human features like population and political features like country boundaries.

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Relief Population Borders

Task 1:Collect a copy of the Foundation Atlas (thin). Using the information on pages 2 and 3 – Introducing Atlas Maps, copy and complete the following sentences:

1. Political maps use a ________ to represent the international _________ around each country. ___________ cities and other major cities are shown by ___________ on a Political map.

2. Rainfall maps make it possible to find the _________ or _________ region in a country. Rainfall maps are often accompanied by __________ graphs.

3. Relief maps show the __________ of the land. Areas which are the _______ height above ____ _______ are shown in the same ________. Lowland is usually shown in _________ and the highest mountain areas in ________ or ________.

4. The colours used on population maps show the ____________ of the ___________ in the ______ areas. Different sizes of _____ show the distribution of ______ and ______.

Task 2:Now that we know about the different types of maps in an atlas, let’s see how much you know, or can find out, about your own country – Scotland.

1. Collect a blank map of Scotland and the Foundation Atlas (thin).2. Use the atlas’ contents page to help you find a relief map of the UK.3. Give your blank map the title ‘Selected physical features of

Scotland’.4. Use your atlas to help you mark the physical features listed below

on your map.5. Make a key to show which type of feature each one is.

Islands: Arran, Mull, Orkney, Shetland, Skye, Outer

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Hebrides Upland Areas: Grampian Mountains, North West

Highlands, Southern Uplands

Hills: Ben Nevis, Ben Macdui, Ben Lawers, Ben More

Water Features: Atlantic Ocean, Firth of Clyde, Firth of Forth, Firth of Tay, The Minch, Moray Firth, North Sea, Pentland Firth, Solway Firth

Rivers: Clyde, Dee, Forth, Spey, Tay, Tweed, Don

Lesson 2: Getting to know the WorldAs we have already seen, an atlas is a book of maps. Last period we focused on Scotland but an Atlas gives us many maps of places all around the world. As a geographer we need to be able to use an atlas to help us locate places quickly. Let’s give it a go!

Task 1:Using the contents page of your atlas, answer the following questions:

a) On what pages would you find a map of Northern Scotland?b) On what page would you find a climate map of Europe?c) On what page would you find a world relief map?d) On what page would you find a world countries map?

Task 2:Using the index pages of your atlas, answer the following questions:

a) On what page would you find a map of East Kilbride, Scotland?

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b) At what longitude and latitude would you find East Kilbride, Scotland?

c) On what page would you find a map of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?d) At what longitude and latitude would you find Rio de Janeiro, Brazil?e) On what page would you find a map of Tokyo, Japan?f) At what longitude and latitude would you find Tokyo, Japan?

Task 3:Using a world relief map and the map below, answer the following questions:

a) Name the continents numbered 1 to 7 on the map above.b) Name the oceans lettered A to E on the map above.c) Name the 5 seas circled on the map above.

Task 4:Using a world countries map and the map below, answer the following questions:

Asian Countries

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1

2

3

4

5

6

7

A

AB

C

D

E

a) Name the countries numbered 1-26 on the map above.

African Countries

b) Name the countries numbered 1-48 on the map above.Lesson 3: Where are you in Scotland?

To identify places you need to think about their characteristics and features. Every place is unique, from the largest city to the smallest village. The place where you live has its own identity.

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Task 1: Where am I?How well do you know Scotland?

"Aam scottish an' until recently a didnae fully appreciate mah bonnie homelain. Ah will gie ye a shoort description ay a toon, city, islain, ur village in scootlund an' ye teel me th' reit answer. It cooldnae be simpler!"

1. This town is located on the banks of the River Tay, and is my hometown. It is also known as The Fair City, although

it is one of three UK towns which are no longer classed as cities. Which town is this?

2. This island is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh largest Scottish island. The main settlement here is Brodick. The highest point is at Goat Fell. Which island is this?

3. This city is the largest in Scotland, located on the River Clyde. It contains four universities within 10 miles of the city centre and became a UNESCO City of Music in August 2008. Where am I describing?

4. This town is situated between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers and contains the largest inland salt water basin in the UK. It is in the council area of Angus and its castle was destroyed in 1297 by hero William Wallace. Which town is this?

5. Two major battles occurred in this town: the first on July 22, 1298, and the second on January 17, 1746. It has three football clubs and the world's only rotary canal connector. Can you guess?

6. The next city is the fourth largest in area in Scotland, and is the "City of Discovery". It has six twin cities. Brian Molko from the band Placebo also grew up here. Where is it?

7. This town and former royal burgh is known worldwide as the "home of golf". It is also the home of Scotland's oldest university, which was formed around 1410. Which town am I describing?

8. This 'granite city' has two local rivers, the Dee and Don. It has been settled for at least 8000 years. Which city am I referring to here?

9. This city is reputedly haunted by the Green Lady of the Castle, and has a castle upon a volcanic crag! Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned in the castle in 1543. Where am I?

10. Last but not least, this city is the capital of Scotland, and the second largest city in Scotland. It has the nicknames "Auld Reekie" and "Athens of the North", and holds several festivals throughout the year, including the famous annual Hogmanay celebration. Which city is this?

Task 2:Produce a short fact file on the settlement you live in. Gather information on the following:

Settlement name

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Settlement type (village, town or city) Settlement location (where is it in Scotland?) Settlement size (how many square kilometres?) Population (how many people live in the settlement?) The jobs people do in your settlement Anything or anyone famous or well known from the settlement.

Lesson 4: Where are you in the World?

This is a photograph of the world taken from a satellite. Actually, it is made up of lots of photographs taken at different times as the satellite circled the Earth, because you cannot see the whole surface of the Earth at the same time. This is because the Earth is a sphere.

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Lines of latitude are imaginary lines drawn around the Earth from east to west. The line of latitude around the centre of the Earth is called the Equator. Latitude is measured in degrees north (°N) or south (°S) of the Equator.

Lines running north to south around the Earth pass through the North and South Poles and are called lines of longitude. The line 0° of longitude passes through Greenwich, near London, and is called the Prime Meridian. Lines of longitude are numbered in degrees east (°E) and west (°W) of the Prime Meridian.

Every place has a latitude and longitude co-ordinate, for example Glasgow is at 55°N 4°W.Task 1:Copy and complete the table below using the index of the Foundation Atlas. For each letter of the alphabet select a country from the index and fill in its latitude and longitude.

Letter Country

Latitude

Longitude

ABCDEFGHIJKLM

Letter Country

Latitude

Longitude

NOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Task 2:Using the Foundation Atlas p70-71, answer the following questions:

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Latitude

Longitude

Top tip!Remembe

r:Lat is fat

Long is tall

1. Which country lies at:a) 0° 20°Eb) 0° 60°Wc) 40°N 100°Wd) 40°N 60°Ee) 60°N 120°Ef) 40°N 100°Eg) 20°S 60°Wh) 60°N 160°Wi) 20°S 140°Ej) 20°N 0°

2. Give the latitude and longitude for:

a) Namibiab) Indiac) Ecuadord) Mexicoe) Japan

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Homework 1:Your teacher will give you a worksheet titled ‘Homework 1: World Map’. Complete all activities on this worksheet for the date your teacher gives you. Remember you can use your jotter and this booklet to help you.

Lesson 5: How do we use map symbols?A map must be clear and easy to read. There is always a lot to put on a map and it can easily become crowded. Symbols are used to save space and to make it easier to see things. Symbols may be small drawings, lines, letters, shortened words or coloured areas. The symbols used on a map are explained in a key.

If you are drawing your own map, you can make up your own symbols. They should be as simple as possible and look something like the feature they represent. How would you show a library or a football ground?

Task 1:Watch the ‘Introducing Map Symbols’ video. You will be shown 15 different photographs. Draw the symbol you would use to represent each feature on a map. Let’s give it a go!

Task 2:Copy and complete the table below. Collect a copy of the Fort William O.S. map (General 2000) and use the key to fill in the missing information from your table.

Symbol Meaning1. P2. CH3. PC4.

5.6.7.8.9.

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10.11.12.13.

Symbol Meaning14.15.16.17.

18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.

Extension Task:Create revision cards to test your partner. On one side of the card draw the symbol and on the other write what the symbol represents on a map. Test your partner to see how many they can remember.

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Lesson 6: Map Symbol BingoTask:Create a grid that has 3 rows and 5 columns. It should look something like the one below.

Choose any 15 symbols shown on the PowerPoint and draw them on any square on your grid card. Write the meaning for each symbol below it.

Parking

Every time your symbol appears on the board put a cross through it.

If you cross out all symbols on a line across your grid put your hand up and shout “Line!” The first person to get a line and tell your teacher the correct meaning for each symbol in your line will be our first winner!

Then we will continue until someone crosses off all symbols on their card. This is called a full house. If you have a full house, put your hand up and shout “House!” If you can tell your teacher the correct meaning for each symbol on your grid then you will be our overall winner!

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Lesson 7: How can we show direction?Maps can help us find our way around. They show us which way something is from where we are. The best way to show direction is to use the points of the compass. There are four main points. These are north, east, south and west. You can remember their order by saying ‘Never Eat Shredded Wheat’. Can you think up a different rhyme?

Between these four main points there are four other points. These are north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west.

Most maps have a sign to show the north direction. If there is no sign the top edge of the map should be north.

To give a direction for a place you have to say which way you need to go to get there. The direction is the point of the compass towards which you have to go.

Let’s give it a go!

Task 1:

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In this activity you will hopefully draw an animal. Your teacher will give you a grid. Start at the large dot and follow the directions below. You must use a ruler and a pencil. The first few have been done for you. Check that they are correct and then work through the rest of the directions.

DirectionsGo north-west then west then west then north then north …… (this has been done for you)

north, north, north, north-east, north-east, east, south-east, north, north, west, west, north, north, north, north, east, east, north, west, north-west, west, north-west, north-west, south, south-east, south, south, south, south-west, west, west, south-west, south-west, south, south, south, south, south, south-west, south, south-west, west, north-west, north, north-west, south, south, south, south-east, east, east, east, north-east, north-east, north-east, east, south-east, south, south, east, east, east, east.

Task 2:Look at the map below. Give the following directions:

a) From the Fire Station to the Elementary School.b) From the Water Plant to the State Park.c) From the Post Office to the Fire Station.d) From the City High School to the State College.e) From the Community Centre to Gore Lake.f) From the City Library to Smith Park.g) From the Community Centre to the Police Station.h) From the City Hall to the Bus Station.

Lesson 8: What are grid references?Maps can be quite complicated and it may be difficult to find things on them. To make places easier to find a grid of squares may be drawn on

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the map. If the lines making up the grid are numbered the exact position of a square can be given.

On Ordnance Survey maps these lines are shown in blue and each has its own special number. The blue lines form grid squares. Grid references are the numbers which give the position of a grid square; these are a bit like co-ordinates you might have used in Maths.

To give a grid reference is simple. Look at the diagram below, we want to find the grid reference for the tree. To do this we first need to go to the bottom, left-hand corner of the square the tree in found in.

From there follow the line down to the number at the bottom – write this down like this: 19_ _

Now go back to the bottom left-hand corner of the square with the tree and from there follow the line across to the number at the side – add this to the first two numbers you already wrote down: 1943.

SUCCESS! You have just found your first 4-figure grid reference!

Task 1:Captain Pete and his pirates have travelled to the desert island on the map below in search of treasure! Help direct them to their treasure by giving them 4-figure references for the following:

a) pearlsb) gemsc) diamondd) bag of gold

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Tree GR = 1943Challenge yourself!Can you find the GR for the airport (plane) on your own?

e) 2 silver piecesf) ringg) crownh) potioni) keyj) treasure chest!

Task 2:Solve the code! The grid references below will lead to letters on the grid below. Collect all the letters and then rearrange them to make four words.

0667, 1654, 1454, 1460, 0966, 0755, 0556, 1262, 1264, 0358, 0367, 0556, 1662, 1262, 0655, 1359, 1064, 0866, 0354, 1064, 0854.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M NZ A B C D E F G H I J K L MY Z A B C D E F G H I J K LX Y Z A B C D E F G H I J KW X Y Z A B C D E F G H I JV W X Y Z A B C D E F G H IU V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H

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68676665646362616059585756

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25

26

27

28

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63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F GS T U V W X Y Z A B C D E FR S T U V W X Y Z A B C D EQ R S T U V W X Y Z A B C DP Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B CO P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A BN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A

Lesson 9 and 10: Build your own map!Task:Create your own treasure map!

1. Collect a piece of A3 paper from your teacher.2. Draw a border about the width of your ruler around the edge of the

paper so it looks like a box.3. Now draw a grid or equally spaced boxes inside your box – a light

blue pencil would be a good idea to use for this. These will form your grid reference lines.

4. Number each line along the bottom and up the side of your grid. You can choose any number you like to begin with but the rest should follow on from the first.

5. Add a compass to the top right hand corner of your paper.6. Now draw out a rough sketch of your treasure island.7. Come up with your own symbols to represent places or things on

your island.8. Draw a key for these on a separate sheet of paper and then add

your symbols to grid squares on your map.

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68676665646362616059585756

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

9. Now write directions to your buried treasure. You must use compass points and grid references! e.g. travel east from the beach at 0439 to the palm trees at 0445.

10. Finally, colour in your map to make it bold and attractive.

When you are finished give your map to a partner and see if they can find the buried treasure using your symbols and directions.

Extension Task: Four-figure Battleships!

For this task you will need a partner. Your teacher will give you each a grid. Mark on your grid:

5 frigates (3 boxes) 3 destroyers (4 boxes)

1 aircraft carrier Ships can be located (6 boxes) horizontally or vertically

You guess a box by giving a four figure grid reference for it. When you guess a box, your opponent must state whether you have ‘hit’ one of his ships. If you score a ‘hit’, he must also say what kind of vessel has been struck. You then have to find the remaining boxes which make up that vessel before it is completely ‘sunk’.

Mark ‘hits’ with red crosses on the grid above. Mark ‘misses’ with blue crosses.

Shade in red on your grid parts of your ships which have been struck by your opponent.

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The winner is the person who correctly locates and sinks all their opponent’s ships.

Lesson 11: How do we use six-figure grid references?Grid references are very useful in helping us to find places on maps. A four figure grid reference on an O.S. map equals an area on the ground of one square kilometre. This is quite a large area. To be more accurate we need to use a six-figure grid reference. This pinpoints a place exactly to within 100 metres.

To find a 6-figure grid reference you start by finding your 4-figure GR one as normal. For example, the church below is found in grid square 7425.

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20

23

24

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When we are looking for a 6-figure GR the easiest way to do this is to write your 4-figure GR like this: 74_25_ and then fill in the two missing numbers.

The missing numbers are found by looking at only the square with the symbol in it. For example let’s zoom in to only GR 7425. In your head divide the square into tenths along the bottom and up the side to create a grid within the square. Follow the arrow along the bottom to line up with the church – it is about half way along so the number is 5. Insert this number into your first blank space. Now follow the arrow up the side to line up with the church – the number is 8. Insert this into the second blank space.

Task 1:Collect a copy of the Fort William O.S. map (General 2000) and give 6-figure grid references for:

a) A castleb) The Underwater Centrec) A Picnic Sited) A Caravan and Camp Sitee) A Visitor Centref) A Viewpoint

g) A Parking Areah) A Public Telephonei) A Mountain Rescue Postj) A Place of Worshipk) A pierl) Ben Nevis (hill)

Extension Task:Look at the map below.What is found at:

a) 148346b) 160313c) 155306d) 176317

e) 148308f) 164320g) 171323h) 163304

i) 163317j) 170311

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72 73 74 75 76

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26

74 75

1 20 3 4 5 6 7 8 910

23456789

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Your 6-figure GR for the church =

745258

Homework 2:Your teacher will give you a worksheet titled ‘Homework 2: Six Figure Grid References’. Complete all activities on this worksheet for the date your teacher gives you. Remember you can use your jotter and this booklet to help you.

Lesson 12: How is height shown on a map?The land around us is seldom flat. There are nearly always differences in height and differences in slope. Sometimes slopes may be gentle and at other times steep. There may be hills, mountains and valleys or areas that are quite level. The word relief is used by geographers to describe the shape of the land.

Map makers have to find ways of showing relief and height. Height is usually measured form sea level in metres. This can be shown using spot heights and contouring.

Spot heights:These give the exact heights of a point on the map. They are shown as a black dot and each one has a number next to it. The number gives the height in metres. A triangulation pillar is also used to show height. These are drawn as a dot inside a blue triangle on the map.

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Tip: Look back at

Lesson 5 if you can’t remember what each

symbol stands for.

Triangulation PillarSpot height

Contours:Contours are lines drawn on a map. They join places which have the same height – its bit like a ‘join the dots’ picture you might have done when you were younger. These lines are mostly coloured an orangey/brown colour. They usually have their height marked on them but you may have to trace your finger along the line to find it. Sometimes you will have to go to the contour above or below to get the height. Heights are given in metres.

Task 1:1. Your teacher will give you a contour worksheet. Join dots of a similar

height to create contour lines. Some have been started for you.2. Shade in your map using the colours for each height shown in the

key – don’t forget to shade in the key too!3. Which height range does each letter fall into?

a. Ab. Bc. Cd. De. Ef. F

Task 2:From the map below give the heights of the following places. Choose your answers form those in brackets.

a. The highest point is (22, 48, 52, 40, 60) metres.b. Place E is (8, 42, 30, 20, 16) metres.c. Place B is (30, 20, 26, 46, 34) metres.d. Place A is (15, 10, 34, 6, 21) metres.e. Place D is (28, 10, 12, 22, 8) metres.

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Spot height

Task 3:Now let’s try to draw our own cross-section graphs using the contour lines shown in the diagram below. The diagram shows two hills from above, as they would be shown on a map. Follow the instructions to create a side view of these.

1. Collect a piece of scrap paper, a ruler and some graph paper.2. Lay your scrap paper along the black line going through the centre

of the diagram above.3. Mark your scrap paper wherever a contour line disappears beneath

your paper, and then write the height of that contour line next to the mark.It should look something like this:

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4. Remove your scrap paper and now line it up along the bottom of your graph paper.

5. Draw a line on the graph paper from the first mark on your scrap paper to the last mark on your scrap paper.

6. Draw a scale up the side of your graph paper – start at 0 and go up in 10s until you get to 50.It should look something like this:

7. Keeping your scrap paper lined up, plot each mark from your scrap paper at the correct height on your graph paper. Each mark should be plotted directly above the mark on your scrap paper – this means that they might not line up exactly with the lines on your graph paper.It should look something like this:

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(Scrap Paper)

8. Now join all the points together!9. Draw arrows on your graph and label Able Hill and Baker Hill as

shown in the original diagram.10. Give your graph a title and don’t forget to label each axis.

Well done!

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