3rd Grade - How To Read A Map Worksheet | PDF | Map | Teaching ... - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step based on the worksheet titled "How To Read A Map" from *Totally3rdGrade.com*. The goal is to identify and label 5 important map features using clues from a song (likely a mnemonic or educational rhyme) called *"How to Read a Map."* Then, students are to circle and label these features on the U.S. map provided.

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🔍 Step 1: Understand the Clues

The worksheet gives a riddle-like clue:

> **"Flower shape - easy to see,
> Letters N, W, S and E.
> Why does this help and tell me now what does it mean?
> It's a ___________
> It shows North, South, East and West."**

This is clearly describing a compass rose.

- "Flower shape" → refers to the typical design of a compass rose with directional points.
- "Letters N, W, S, and E" → stand for North, West, South, and East.
- The blank should be filled with: Compass Rose

✔ So, one map feature is the compass rose, which is already shown in the top-right corner of the map.

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🧭 Step 2: Identify Other Map Features

Even though the song isn't fully provided, we can infer the five key map features commonly taught in elementary grades, especially from the context and visual elements present:

#### 1. Compass Rose
- Already identified.
- Located in the top right.
- Shows directions: N, S, E, W.

#### 2. Legend (or Key)
- The box on the right side of the map showing:
- ✈️ Airport
- 🚑 Hospital
- 🏫 School
- This tells us what the symbols mean.
- This is a legend — essential for interpreting symbols.

#### 3. Scale of Distance
- Found at the bottom of the map: a line marked “0 50 100 150 MILES”
- Tells how distances on the map relate to real-world miles.
- This is the scale bar.

#### 4. Title
- The big text at the top: "United States Map"
- Tells you what the map is about.
- Every map should have a title.

#### 5. Symbols (Map Icons)
- The icons like airplane, hospital, school placed on states.
- These represent places of interest.
- Students need to use the legend to interpret them.

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✔ Final Answer: Five Important Map Features

Based on the clues and visuals, the five map features to identify and label are:

1. Compass Rose – shows directions (N, S, E, W)
2. Legend (Key) – explains symbols
3. Scale Bar – shows distance in miles
4. Title – tells what the map is about
5. Symbols (Landmarks) – represent places like airports, hospitals, schools

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🖼️ Instructions for the Student

Now, on the map:

1. Circle and label each of these features:
- Compass Rose → Top right corner
- Legend → Right side, next to the map
- Scale Bar → Bottom center, labeled "MILES"
- Title → Top center, "United States Map"
- Symbols → Any of the airport, hospital, or school icons on the map (e.g., circle one and label it as “Airport” using the legend)

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📝 Fill in the Blank

From the riddle:

> It's a compass rose
> It shows North, South, East and West.

So, the student should write: compass rose

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✔ Summary

| Map Feature | Location on Worksheet | What It Does |
|------------------|------------------------------------|--------------|
| Compass Rose | Top right | Shows directions |
| Legend | Right side | Explains symbols |
| Scale Bar | Bottom center | Measures distance |
| Title | Top center | Names the map |
| Symbols | Placed across the U.S. map | Show locations of places |

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🎯 Final Task: The student should:
- Circle and label all five features on the map.
- Write "compass rose" in the blank.

This activity teaches foundational map-reading skills essential for geography in early education.