Learn to read simple maps, follow directions, and use a map's scale to work out real distances.
Maps are usually drawn with North at the top. The four main directions — North, South, East, and West — help us describe where one place is compared to another.
Which direction is opposite of North?
South
If your school is East of your house, which direction do you walk to get home from school?
West
A map is much smaller than the real place it shows, so it uses a scale to tell you how map distance relates to real distance. If the scale says 1 cm = 1 km, every centimeter on the map stands for a kilometer in real life.
A map's scale says 1 cm = 1 km. Two towns are 5 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance?
5 km
A map's scale says 1 cm = 2 km. Two villages are 3 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance?
6 km
1. Which direction is opposite of East?
2. A map's scale says 1 cm = 1 km. Two places are 8 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance?
3. A map's scale says 1 cm = 5 km. Two cities are 4 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance?
4. If the market is North of the school, and you walk from the market to the school, which direction are you walking?
5. A map's scale says 1 cm = 3 km. Two places are 6 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance?