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Knowing how to read a map is a crucial skill. Your first grader is the perfect age to learn using this map key worksheet. It will teach your child how to use a map key and improve their critical thinking and navigation skills. It will also help them develop a keen eye for detail. We used a simple map to familiarize them with the basics of map reading. This free printable worksheet also doubles as a coloring activity for more fun. Want to know how to introduce your child to map keys? Read on.
Map Keys: What Are They?
You know what a map is, but what is a map key? A map key is a box at the bottom of your map that shows what the lines and symbols on the map mean. So, a cross sign can mean a church, and the color green may mean a forest.
The map key also includes a scale to calculate the distance covered. For example, 1 inch on the map can indicate 100 miles on the ground.
How Does A Map Key Work?
Depending on your map, the map key will denote different parts of the map using lines, colors, patterns, and symbols. For example, if you have a city map, you may see different types of lines for roads, streets, and narrow lanes.
Topographical maps are more complicated. They have different symbols for geographic features, like mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests, and gradient lines to show how high or low a place is.
No matter what type of map you use, the map key will contain a detailed list of all the symbols and what they mean. You can use the key and your compass to head to your destination with ease.
How To Use The Map Key Worksheet
The map key worksheet is simple and appropriate for your 1st grader. It also comes with instructions to make your job easier. Here’s how you can make it a fun activity.
- Bring out the crayons and get your child coloring. Help them pick the right colors according to the directions.
- Turn the task into a counting activity. Ask your child to count the number of cities as they circle them.
- Help your child make a map with a map key of your garden or backyard with different symbols for trees, flowers, and pathways.
For more practice, consider printing our free ‘reading a map’ worksheet and have your child make their own map key for it.
Knowing how to use a map key to read a map is a real-world skill important for survival. This map key worksheet is just the thing to get your kid started. Although we live in an age where we can type directions into electronic devices to reach our destinations, physical maps help when we cannot depend on the internet. As your child grows up, introduce them to more map-reading topics using latitude and longitude worksheets. This way, they will become a map expert in no time.
Answer key
Key Pointers
- Map keys explain what different symbols on a map mean.
- They are located at the bottom of a map and also contain a scale to calculate distance.
- Map key worksheets teach kids how to read a map and improve their navigating skills.
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