Different Types of Map and

Their Uses
• Maps can be drawn or created in a number of ways.
• They can be drawings, photographs or models.
• They can help you find where you are or where you need to go. They can also
help you plan construction projects or tell us how a landscape has evolved over
time.
• Maps can show physical features, such as rivers, lakes and buildings and also
things that cannot be seen, such as boundaries or temperatures.
• Let’s learn about some different types of map and their uses.

To Think About…

Discuss with a partner what maps you may have used or heard of.
Do you think the way we have used maps has changed over time?
 Aerial Photo
• Aerial photos provide a bird’s eye view of land, sea
or structures.
• They can provide important details about how a site
can change over time that you cannot see from
ground level.
• Information about topography, soil, vegetation,
ocean currents and fish populations can also be
taken from these photographs.

• They are often used for archaeological reasons, such

as planning an excavation site or to see what area an
archaeological dig should take place in.

• The first aerial photographs were taken from

balloons, kites and even pigeons.
 Aerial Plan
• An aerial plan provides a bird’s eye view of a town,
structure or area.

• It allows you to view buildings in perspective to

their surroundings.

• It can make life easier for city planners to judge the

size of a project and where it would sit in the
surrounding landscape.
 Messy Map
• Messy maps are a useful way to record information
consolidated in a lesson.
• We can create our own versions of routes discussed
in class.
• Any materials can be used, such as sticky notes,
paper or pens.
• Messy maps are a great way to practise geographical
language and study the different features of a map.

To Think About…

How does this map look different to one that you

might find in an atlas?
 Natural Map
• A natural map is created using materials found in
nature.
• These materials may include twigs, leaves, stones,
etc.
• It is a great outdoor learning activity, allowing us to
create a map of our route to school, our local area,
etc.
• It is a fun way to consolidate learning, reading and
knowledge of maps.

To Think About…

In what situation might you use a natural

map?
 Ordnance Survey Map
• Ordnance Survey maps show physical and human
features as symbols. This makes them easier to read.

• Each Ordnance Survey map has a key to help you

understand it.

• Ordnance Survey maps come with a scale. This is

the relationship between how big something is in
real life to how big it has been drawn, e.g. 1cm on a
map may equal 5 miles.

• These maps are often separated into grid references,

helping you locate an area, building or place of
interest more easily.
 Political Map
• A political map shows political divisions or human-
created boundaries of the world.
• It can show countries, country boundaries, cities and
capital cities, seas and oceans.

• Political maps help people understand the geography

of the world. You may often find them in an atlas.
 Physical Map
• This type of map shows the physical features of an
area, such as major rivers and lakes (shown in blue),
relief (shape) of the land, deserts and landforms,
such as volcanoes.

• If you are going on a hike, you may wish to use a

physical map to plan your route.

• You may also use a physical map if you are studying

the geology of an area.
 Thematic Map
• A thematic map is a map that is designed to show
information about a single topic, e.g. climate zones.

• Different colours are usually used to demonstrate

how places relate to one another. For example, if one
place has a colder climate, the colour blue may be
used. A country with a hotter climate may be red.

• It does not usually show political or physical

features.
 Topographical Map

• A topographical map uses contour lines to show the

relief of the landscape.
• It is possible to identify landforms such as hills,
plains and valleys using these maps.

• These maps are useful for understanding how the

shape of our land could affect rivers, weather and
soil types.

• Satellites, radar, levels and telescopes can also be

used to measure land.
 Road Map

• A road map is used to show the major and minor

roads in an area.

• Road maps might also show towns and cities,

airports and other points of interest, such as
campsites, etc.

• Road maps are a brilliant tool to aid navigation.