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.
Social studies worksheet · Maps and cardinal directions
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.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–3
- 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
“Maps use little pictures called symbols. Draw a line from each symbol to what it stands for.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Make up a symbol for a playground. Draw it here.
Words on this sheet
SymbolPicnic areaForestCapital cityAirport
Teacher tip
Show a real park or zoo map with symbols.
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.
- Start with a quick question that connects the topic to kids’ own lives.
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 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.
Grades 3–5
Hemispheres: Halves of the Earth
A world map with the equator and prime meridian drawn in: name the hemisphere each continent is in and answer questions about the two halves of the Earth.
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