Map skills and grid references · KS3 Geography

Direction and grid references

The eight compass points are north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west, west and north-west.
A four-figure grid reference gives a square: read the easting first (along the bottom), then the northing (up the side). Remember "along the corridor, then up the stairs".
A six-figure grid reference gives an exact point, by imagining each square divided into tenths.

A scale of 1 : 50 000 means 1 cm on the map is 50 000 cm (500 m) in real life, so 2 cm is 1 km.
On a 1 : 25 000 map, 1 cm is 250 m, so 4 cm is 1 km.
Measure winding routes with a piece of string, then compare it with the scale line.

Contour lines join places of the same height. Close together means steep; far apart means gentle.
Spot heights and triangulation pillars also show height.
The key explains the symbols used, such as churches, footpaths and campsites.

Lines of latitude run east to west and show how far north or south of the Equator a place is. Lines of longitude run from pole to pole and show how far east or west of the Prime Meridian (0°, through Greenwich) it is.
GIS (Geographic Information Systems) are computer systems that show layers of data on digital maps.

Compass points: The directions north, east, south and west, and those in between.
Grid reference: A set of numbers that locates a square or point on a map.
Easting: A vertical grid line, read along the bottom of the map.
Northing: A horizontal grid line, read up the side of the map.
Scale: The ratio between a distance on a map and the real distance.
Contour line: A line joining places of the same height.
Key: An explanation of the symbols on a map.
Latitude: Distance north or south of the Equator.
Longitude: Distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
GIS: Computer systems that show layers of data on digital maps.