Grades 1–5
Make a Map With a Key
Draw a bird’s-eye map of a real place, add a compass rose and build a map key (legend) with your own symbols.
Social studies worksheet · Maps and cardinal directions
Treasure Island Grid
A lettered and numbered treasure island map: read grid squares like C4, then draw new things in the squares you are given.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–5
- 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
“Find things on the map with a letter and a number. Letters go across, numbers go down.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Which square has the…
- Draw it on the map
- 1. Draw a star in A1.
- 2. Draw a fish in F2.
- 3. Draw a flag in C6.
- 4. Draw a path to the Treasure.
Words on this sheet
ShipHutVolcanoCavePalm treeParrotBridgeRowboat
Teacher tip
Remind kids: letter first, then number. Across the hall, then up the stairs.
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.
- Keep a classroom globe, a world map and a U.S. map in reach while kids work.
Watch for
Kids who think north means “up” on any page. Turn the map and talk about it.
Talk about it
- Why do maps need a key?
- What question would you ask an expert on this topic?
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 2–5
Follow the Directions
Follow north, south, east and west steps on a letter grid to spell a secret map word.
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.
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.
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