A globe can be useful when we want to study the Earth as a whole.

A map is a representation or a drawing of the Earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.

When many maps are put together we, get an Atlas.

Physical maps show natural features of the Earth.

Political maps show different boundaries of different countries and states.

Thematic maps focus on specific information.

There are three components of maps—distance, direction and symbol.

Distance

• The scale is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map.
• If you know the scale, you will be able to calculate the distance between any two places on a map.
• When large areas like continents or countries are to be shown on paper, then we use a small scale map.
• When a small area like your village or town is to be shown on paper, then we use a large scale map. Direction
• There are four major directions, North, South, East and West. They are called cardinal points.
• We can find out the direction of a place with the help of a magnetic compass.

Symbols

• The conventional symbols give a lot of information in a limited space.
• The blue colour is used for showing water bodies, brown for mountains, yellow for plateau and green is used for plains.

Sketch

• A sketch is a drawing mainly based on memory and spot observation and not to scale.
• A rough drawing is drawn without scale is called a sketch map.

Plan

• A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.
• There are certain things which we may sometimes want to know, for example, the length and breadth of a room.

A map is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.

Maps are of different types—physical maps, political maps and thematic maps.

Physical maps show natural features of the earth, political maps show cities, towns, countries etc. with their boundaries and thematic maps focus on some particular information such as maps showing distribution of population.

The three components of maps are distance, direction and symbol.

A scale is needed to represent a small distance on paper for a large distance on the ground. Thus, scale is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map.

A small scale map is used to show large areas like continents or countries on a paper.

A large scale map is used to show a small area like a village or town on a paper.

There are four major directions—North, South, East and West, known as cardinal points.

There are four intermediate directions—north-east (NE), south-east (SE), south-west (SW) and north-west (NW).

Symbols are used to show features like buildings, roads, bridges, etc. on the map. By using symbols we make the map very informative.

Maps have a universal language. There is an international agreement regarding the use of these symbols. These are called conventional symbols.

A sketch map is a rough drawing without scale.

A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.

Map: It is a representation or a drawing of the earth’s surface or a part of it drawn on a flat surface according to a scale.

Scale: It is the ratio between the actual distance on the ground and the distance shown on the map.

Cardinal points: The four directions—North, South, East and West—are called cardinal points.

Symbols: To represent buildings, roads, bridges, etc. on the map we use symbols. These symbols are of universal significance.

Sketch: A sketch is a drawing mainly based on memory and spot observation and not to scale.

Plan: A plan is a drawing of a small area on a large scale.