Original notes — ready
Chapter 14: Maps and Locations
CBSE (NCERT, English Medium) • Class 5 • Mathematics • Book: Math Mela
Maps and Locations — EG's own notes, in simple words
Book: Math Mela (CBSE, Class 5) | Chapter 14 | Medium: English
Diagram (labels are printed on the image): A simple map with a river, forest, road and compass. A general teaching picture about maps.
Children reading a map with a compass. A general picture about finding locations.
What the chapter is about
This chapter is about maps: small drawings that show big places. A map uses symbols — a blue line for a river, a green patch for a forest, a small square for a house.
Every map needs a scale: it tells how much real distance one centimetre on the map stands for. If the scale is 1 cm = 1 km, then 5 cm on the map means 5 km on the ground.
Directions matter too: north is up on most maps, and a compass shows north, south, east and west. To find a place, we use its direction and its distance from a known point.
Maps also use a key, or legend, that explains every symbol. Without the key, a blue line could be a river or a road. Always read the key first, just as you read the scale first.
What you should learn
Read a map in three steps: find the symbols, read the scale, check the directions. Never guess a distance without the scale.
Key Terms
- Map — A drawing of a place seen from above.
- Scale — The relation between map distance and real distance.
- Symbol — A small sign standing for a real thing.
- Compass — A tool showing directions.
- Direction — North, south, east or west.
- Legend (key) — The part of a map that explains what each symbol means.
Remember
- Maps use symbols for real things.
- Scale converts map distance to real distance.
- North is usually at the top of a map.
- Direction + distance = location.
Exam Tip / Common Mistake
Common mistake: measuring on the map and reporting it as real distance. Always multiply by the scale first.
Chart / Table: Map symbols
| Symbol | Means |
|---|---|
| Blue line | River |
| Green patch | Forest |
| Small square | House |
| Red line | Road |
Think and try
Draw a tiny map of your room: a square for your bed, a circle for a table, an arrow for north. Give your map to a friend with its key. Can your friend find the door from your map alone?
Practice set — try it yourself
- On a map with scale 1 cm = 2 km, a road measures 6 cm. How long is it really?
Hint: Multiply by the scale. - Which direction is usually at the top of a map?
Hint: Think about north. - Draw a simple map of your classroom with symbols.
Hint: Use squares for desks, a rectangle for the door. - Name the four main directions.
Hint: North, south, east, west. - A park is 3 cm east of school on a 1 cm = 1 km map. How far and which way?
Hint: Use scale and direction.
How to use this page: Read the summary, say the Key Terms in your own words, then try the practice set without looking. Ask your teacher or parent to check your answers.