Grades 1–3
Map Symbols: What Do They Mean?
Match 8 common map symbols (tent, H, airplane, picnic table, mountains, star, tree and railroad) to what they mean on a map key.
Social studies worksheet · Maps and cardinal directions
Follow the Directions
Follow north, south, east and west steps on a letter grid to spell a secret map word.
- Grade level
- Grades 2–5
- Time
- About 15 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Map skills, Cardinal and intermediate directions, Grids and coordinates, Map keys and scale
What kids do
“Start on the star. Follow each step and write the letter where you land. What is the secret word?”
Printed on the sheet:
- Go 2 squares north and 1 square east.
- Go 3 squares east.
- Go 2 squares north.
- Go 2 squares west and 1 square north.
- Go 1 square east and 3 squares south.
- Now write your own directions from the star to any letter. Can a friend follow them?
Teacher tip
Ask kids to move a coin or eraser along the grid for each step.
How to use it
- Look at a real map of your town or school together first.
- Show a map on the document camera and model one question.
- Read the sheet aloud for early readers and let them answer with drawings.
Watch for
Kids who think north means “up” on any page. Turn the map and talk about it.
Talk about it
- Which way is north in our classroom?
- What did you learn that surprised you?
Take it further
Make a class map of the playground with a key.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More maps and cardinal directions worksheets
Grades 3–5
Around the Park: In-Between Directions
A 25-square park map for the intermediate directions: what is northeast of the statue, which way is the gate from the pond, and more.
Grades 3–5
How Far Is It? Using a Map Scale
Measure straight roads with a ruler on a map drawn to scale (1 inch = 10 miles) and work out the real distances between the farm, the town, the lake and the school.
Grades 2–5
Landforms and Bodies of Water
Match 8 geography words, from mountain and valley to island, peninsula, lake and river, to their meanings, then draw a landform you have seen.
Free for teachers
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