Map Symbols, Legend & Keys — Answer Key
Part A: Trace the Words
Trace each word carefully by following the dotted lines.
1. legend
2. north
3. south
4. key
5. map
6. symbol
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A symbol is a drawing on a map that stands for something real.
Mapmakers often use a star to mark important cities, especially capital cities, so they're easy to spot.
2. The map legend lists all the symbols used.
A compass is a tool with a needle that always points to north, helping us figure out which way south is too.
3. A compass rose shows north and south.
Symbols use simple drawings to represent real things, which keeps maps neat and easy to read.
4. A small tree symbol might mean a park on a map.
Grass and trees are green in real life, so mapmakers color grassy areas like fields and parks green too.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. A map key and a map legend are the same thing.
True False
Parks have lots of trees, which is why a tree picture is a common symbol for a park area.
2. You do not need a legend to read map symbols.
True False
Without a legend or key, no one would know what the symbols stand for, so every map needs one.
3. A compass rose helps us find directions on a map.
True False
By tradition, mapmakers place north at the top of the map, with south at the bottom.