Today we are going to talk about maps and globes. When talking about maps and globes we will look at the different features on both maps and globes and how they are similar and/or different.

A map is a flat diagram of an area of land or sea showing physical traits, cities, roads and more. A map will come in handy when you want to see the full picture of something as opposed to looking at small chunks.

An Atlas is a book full of maps which can be used for specific areas such as Australia in the example shown. An atlas is most useful when trying to navigate a specific area as it may be more detailed for that area.

A globe is the 3-D map of the earth that will often show many of the same features that a typical 2-D map would have. Using a globe will be most helpful when looking for the most realistic representation of the earth. Looking at and comparing the scale and geographical locations of places on the globe.

The title which is in the top left corner of this map, "The World", is very common in most maps atlases and sometimes globes. The title tells the audience what area this diagram represents.

A map key or legend as it is sometimes referred to is used to help the reader interpret symbols on a map. These symbols could include geographical features such as mountains or bodies of water, it could also help identify where there are roads and railroads on the map.

A map scale is another helpful tool to interpret the map as it helps you realistically understand the size of areas and distances between other areas. An example of this may be that the map of the USA is 21 inches from the east coast to the west coast, but you have a scale that says fir each inch it equals 100 miles which would mean that the length of the USA would actually be 2,100 miles long.

A compass on a map is extremely important as it shows you the different directions on the map. This way I know if I am heading in the correct direction, for example if I was heading from Pennsylvania to Florida I would know that I need to go south (if I go north I would end up in Canada without a passport, awkward).

Now I want you to explore some maps, atlases, and globes. Notice these features and tools we discussed and how they compare.