A map is a drawing of a place seen from high above, showing us where things are.
The four compass points
A compass helps us say which way to go. The four main points, going clockwise, are North, East, South, West. A good way to remember the order is: Never Eat Soggy Weetabix.
Put the compass points in order, going clockwise from North:
- North
- East
- South
- West
The eight compass points
We can add four more points in between the main ones. These are North-East, South-East, South-West and North-West. North-East sits exactly between North and East.
| Between these two points | The point in the middle |
|---|---|
| North and East | North-East (NE) |
| East and South | South-East (SE) |
| South and West | South-West (SW) |
| West and North | North-West (NW) |
A bird's-eye view
A map shows a place from directly above, as a bird would see it when flying — also called a plan view. From above, a round table looks like a circle and a book looks like a rectangle.
Symbols and the key
Maps use small pictures called symbols to stand for real things. A little tree symbol means a wood, and a blue line means a river. Since there are too many symbols to remember, every map has a key (also called a legend) — a small box that explains what each symbol means.
Drawing your own map
To draw a plan of your room, imagine floating above it. Draw the walls as an outline, then add each object in the right place, using simple shapes and a key so others can read your map.