Geopark at home

Activity 12 – Unlock the key

Download a printable version of these instructions here.

Maps show important features of a place as if viewed from straight up above. Symbols are used to identify features clearly.

Our collection of map symbols is all mixed up! Can you help us find the correct key?

You will need:

• Paper
• Coloured pencils
• Scissors
• Printer (optional)

What to do:

Copy the mixed-up map symbols and words from the PDF onto some paper. You could print this sheet, but I would recommend drawing to get some practice in. Cut out the map symbols and words with scissors so that you have 32 individual cards.

Start figuring out which symbol matches which word. Matching them up makes a ‘key’ – a list of what the different symbols mean so you can look them up. When you think you have unlocked the correct key, compare it with the complete map and symbols PDF. If you got any wrong, don’t worry, mix up your cards and try pairing them up again.

What’s going on?

Maps help people visualise a landscape. There are many types of maps, e.g. historical, geological, topographical (showing the lumps and bumps in the ground). It is important to have a key on a map, so that when other people look at it, they know what the drawings mean.

Extension

Now you have a key you can start drawing your very own map. Maybe try your garden, or an area in your local park. Make sure to include everything that is relevant from the key.

Think about how you are going to draw the objects to scale. You could use 1cm of paper for every 1m in your mapping area. If you don’t have a tape measure, you could measure using your steps e.g.  1 step is equal to 1cm on paper.

Take it further:

To really make the symbols stick in your head try a memory game:

Turn all the cards upside down and mix them up. Turn over two cards. If they match (that is, you have the right word for the right symbol), pick the two cards up – you have a pair! If the cards don’t match, turn them back over, but remember where they are, as you might turn over its correct match on your next attempt. You could play this with another person and see who finds the most pairs.

You can find more symbols on the OS maps site. Make your key even bigger and see if you can remember which symbol matches which word:

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/documents/25k-raster-legend.pdf

https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/documents/50k-raster-legend.pdf

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