Reading Maps

What is Reading Maps?

Within Geography, which covers maps, landforms, weather, climate, population and settlements: understand how our planet and people connect, this topic explains Reading Maps. Geography explains how places, people and natural processes connect, so each topic here combines a clear definition with a visual model.

Check that you can explain Reading Maps in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.

Understanding Reading Maps helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.

Reading Maps in detail

Maps show features of the Earth's surface using symbols, colours and lines. The key (legend) explains the symbols, the title says what the map shows and the compass or north arrow gives direction. Different types include physical maps, political maps, road maps and thematic maps.

Ordnance Survey maps use standard symbols for features such as churches, railways, footpaths and woodland. Learning to read a map lets you describe a location, plan a route and interpret patterns, such as where settlements are along a river. Always check the scale and date of a map.

How the interactive helps you understand Reading Maps

Click a step, or use the Previous and Next buttons, to move through the sequence one stage at a time. Auto-play moves on for you.

Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Reading Maps.

Real-life uses and examples

• Describe a real place where Reading Maps can be seen, using a map or photograph.
• Explain how Reading Maps affects people, jobs and land use in a region.
• Support an answer about Reading Maps with a named case study and specific evidence.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing general statements without a named place or example.
• Mixing up cause, effect and consequence when you explain Reading Maps.
• Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.