Map Symbols and KeysActivities & Teaching Strategies
Active learning works for map symbols and keys because students need to move between abstract symbols and familiar spaces. When they search for symbols in real places or design their own, the abstract becomes concrete, building lasting understanding.
Learning Objectives
- 1Identify common map symbols used on Ordnance Survey maps of Ireland.
- 2Explain the function of a map key in interpreting geographical features.
- 3Design a set of original symbols to represent features in a classroom environment.
- 4Analyze the reasons behind the selection of specific symbols for common map features.
- 5Evaluate the clarity and usefulness of a map's key for a specific audience.
Want a complete lesson plan with these objectives? Generate a Mission →
Pairs: Local Map Symbol Hunt
Provide excerpts from Irish Ordnance Survey maps of the local area. Pairs locate and label 10 symbols using the key, then discuss matches with the real features outside. Share findings with the class.
Prepare & details
Analyze why specific symbols are chosen to represent real-world features on a map.
Facilitation Tip: During the Local Map Symbol Hunt, set a five-minute timer per pair to keep the task focused and ensure students record their findings clearly on their sheets.
Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter
Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback
Small Groups: Classroom Symbol Design
Groups sketch a map of the classroom and invent simple symbols for desks, doors, and windows. They create a matching key and test it by having another group interpret the map.
Prepare & details
Design a set of symbols for a new map of our classroom.
Facilitation Tip: When leading the Classroom Symbol Design, provide only plain paper and colored pencils to avoid distractions and encourage simple, effective designs.
Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter
Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback
Whole Class: Key Critique Circle
Display three sample maps with varying key quality. Class votes on clarity, suggests improvements in pairs, then shares as a group to compile best practices.
Prepare & details
Evaluate the effectiveness of a map's key in conveying information clearly.
Facilitation Tip: In the Key Critique Circle, model one round with the class using a think-aloud to demonstrate how to give constructive feedback about symbol clarity and key organization.
Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter
Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback
Individual: Personal Key Creation
Students draw a map of their journey to school, choose symbols, and write a key. They swap with a partner for feedback on usability.
Prepare & details
Analyze why specific symbols are chosen to represent real-world features on a map.
Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter
Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback
Teaching This Topic
Teachers should introduce symbols by comparing them to real objects first, then gradually remove the visual supports. Avoid overwhelming students with too many symbols at once. Research shows that spaced practice with immediate feedback builds stronger retention than long sessions.
What to Expect
Successful learning looks like students confidently matching symbols to features, explaining their choices, and using keys without prompting. They should critique symbols critically and design clear, efficient keys for others to follow.
These activities are a starting point. A full mission is the experience.
- Complete facilitation script with teacher dialogue
- Printable student materials, ready for class
- Differentiation strategies for every learner
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionDuring the Local Map Symbol Hunt, watch for students who assume a symbol must look exactly like the feature it represents.
What to Teach Instead
Provide a mini-whiteboard for pairs to sketch their symbol guesses before checking the key, then have them compare their drawings to the real feature. Guide them to notice that symbols use simple shapes for clarity, not realistic details.
Common MisconceptionDuring the Classroom Symbol Design activity, students may believe symbols are universal across all maps.
What to Teach Instead
After groups finish designing, display their symbols alongside Ordnance Survey examples. Ask students to compare how different groups represented the same feature, highlighting that conventions exist but creative choices matter too.
Common MisconceptionDuring the Key Critique Circle, students might think a key should list every detail on the map.
What to Teach Instead
Give each group a crowded key from a sample map and ask them to highlight the three most important symbols. Discuss how overloading keys makes maps hard to use, then have groups refine their own keys based on this feedback.
Assessment Ideas
After the Local Map Symbol Hunt, provide each pair with a different Ordnance Survey map section and its key. Ask them to identify three features and write the corresponding symbol meanings, using the key to confirm their answers.
During the Classroom Symbol Design, ask students to present their symbol choices to the class. Prompt them to explain why their symbols are clear and efficient, using phrases like 'Our symbol for the sink looks like ___ because ____.'
During the Classroom Symbol Design activity, have students swap maps and keys with a partner. Each student uses the partner's key to locate two features on the map, then gives feedback on clarity and accuracy.
Extensions & Scaffolding
- Challenge students who finish early to create a symbol key for an imaginary park, including at least five features and a legend.
Key Vocabulary
| Map Symbol | A small drawing or shape used on a map to represent a real-world object or feature, such as a building, road, or river. |
| Map Key | A legend or guide on a map that explains what each symbol represents, allowing the map reader to understand the map's information. |
| Ordnance Survey | The national mapping agency of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, whose maps are commonly used in Ireland and feature standardized symbols. |
| Feature | A distinctive attribute or aspect of something, in geography, this refers to a specific element on the landscape like a park, school, or post office. |
Suggested Methodologies
Planning templates for Exploring Our World: 3rd Class Geography
More in The Local Environment and Mapping
Our School Grounds: Features & Layout
Investigating the physical and human features of the school grounds and immediate neighborhood.
3 methodologies
Local Area Walk: Observing Features
Students conduct an observational walk of the immediate neighborhood, identifying key geographical features.
3 methodologies
Cardinal Directions & Compass Use
Learning to use cardinal directions (N, S, E, W) and a compass to orient oneself and maps.
3 methodologies
Creating Simple Maps
Students practice drawing simple sketch maps of familiar areas, incorporating symbols and directions.
3 methodologies
Grid References: Finding Locations
Introduction to basic grid references for locating points on a map.
3 methodologies
Ready to teach Map Symbols and Keys?
Generate a full mission with everything you need
Generate a Mission