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Examine an orienteering map together and talk about the symbols

Map Discussion — Activity

Discuss how orienteering maps represent the world

Time	10-15 minutes
Space	Schoolyard, local park, or forest
Materials	Orienteering map of the area
Vocabulary	Map legend, Landmarks

"Let's have a look at an orienteering map"

Map Discussion is a guided group activity where participants examine an orienteering map to learn how symbols and features represent the real world. Participants look at a map together, talk about what the symbols mean, and relate them to the terrain around them.

Learning Goals

Learning Goals

Students completing this activity will be able to:

• Understand map symbols and the features they represent
• Relate features on the map to features in the terrain
• Familiarize oneself with an orienteering map
• Orient the map using the features around you

How to Run It

How to Run It

Setup

1. Print a large poster sized map of the area

Steps

1. Gather the group. Gather the group at a clear spot with visible landmarks (e.g. near a path, playground, or open field).

2. Introduce the map. Show them the orienteering map of the area and point out it looks different from Google Maps or topographic maps, more detailed and full of symbols.

3. Explain the symbols. Explain that the symbols are standardized worldwide, like a language you can use anywhere.

4. Connect ground to map. Ask students to point to something they see in the real world (e.g. a fence or a tree line) and try to find it on the map.

5. Reinforce the concept. Reinforce that this is called "relating the ground to the map", you start with what you see and then match it on the map.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Map legend: The part of the map that explains what each symbol means.

Landmarks: Real-world features you can see and recognize, used to connect the map to the terrain.

See the Glossary for all curriculum terms.