1) The document discusses different geographical skills used for reading topographical maps, including grid references, compass directions, straight line distances, and contour lines. 2) It provides examples of how to determine four-figure and six-figure grid references, compass directions between locations, compass bearings, and measuring straight line distances using the map scale. 3) The document also explains how contour lines indicate steep or gentle slopes based on how close together or far apart the lines are.

1. Student’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 1
EDGEFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL
SECONDARY ONE GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTER TWO: GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS
Geographer’s name: _____________________ ( ) Class: 1 _____ Date: ____________
TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP READING
(A) Grid Reference
• Always remember to start reading from the bottom left corner. Read your X-axis first.
• Four-figure grid reference gives the GENERAL location of a particular
building/feature:
1. First, read the number for the easting (from the X-axis); then
2. Then, read the northings (from the Y-axis).
• Six-figure grid reference gives the SPECIFIC location of a particular building/feature:
1. First, find the grid square with the feature/building asked in the question.
2. Then, use a ruler to divide the grid square into 10 equal parts along both the
eastings and northings.
3. Third, read the number for the easting first (from the X-axis); then
4. Lastly, read the northings (from the Y-axis).
Now you try!
Q) What is the four-figure grid reference of the Hindu temple shown in Fig. 1?
A) The four-figure grid reference is __________.
Now you try!
Q) What is the six-figure grid reference of the Hindu temple shown in Fig. 2?
A) The six-figure grid reference is ________________.

2. Student’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 2
(B) Compass Direction
• The compass points are also called cardinal points:
• To find the compass direction of one location to another location:
1. First, draw a straight line connecting the two locations/buildings.
2. Then read the question carefully –
⇒ If the question asks you the direction of A from B,
then draw a ‘+’ sign at B & read the direction from B.
⇒ If the question asks you the direction of B from A,
then draw a ‘+’ sign at A and read the direction from A.
__________
________
___________
Now you try!
Q) Find the direction of Midland from
Saginaw:
1. Draw the ‘+’ sign at Saginaw;
2. Then read the direction from
Saginaw.
A) Midland is located _____________
of Saginaw.
Now you try!
Q) Eg. Find the direction of Saginaw
from Midland:
1. Draw the ‘+’ sign at Midland;
2. Then read the direction from
Midland.
A) Saginaw is located _____________
of Midland.
___________
________
___________ ___________
__________

3. Student’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 3
• To find the compass bearing of between two locations:
1. First, draw a straight line connecting the two locations/buildings.
2. Then read the question carefully –
⇒ If the question asks you the direction of A from B,
then draw a ‘+’ sign at B & read the direction from B.
(C) Straight Line Distances
• Maps will always show things smaller than they are in reality. But things shown on maps
are always drawn to scale. Meaning, the size of the things (ie. buildings/features/distances)
on the map is always drawn using a ratio to the actual distance on the ground.
• Eg.
• To measure the straight line distance between two locations:
1. First, draw a straight line connecting the two locations/buildings.
2. Use a ruler to measure the distance between the two locations.
 Eg. You measured 2 cm on your ruler.
3. Refer to the scale of the map to find the actual distance on the ground.
 Eg. The scale states 1 : 50 000
 Meaning, 1 cm on map represents 50 000 cm (ie. 500 m or 0.5 km)
on the ground.
 Thus, the 2 cm you measured on your ruler represents (2 x 0.5km =)
1 km on the ground.
Now you try!
Q) Find the bearing of the church
from the Dairy Farm:
1. Draw the ‘+’ sign at the Dairy
Farm;
2. Then place your protractor
covering the right half of the ‘+’
sign.
3. Read clockwise starting from 0º
.
A) The compass bearing of the church
from the Dairy Farm is ________.
Size of church drawn on map: Size of church in reality
(5 times bigger):
[Scale] 1 : 5 (meaning 1 cm on the map represents 5 cm on the
ground – always same units!!)
[Ratio] map : reality = 1 : 5

4. Student’s copy/Prepared by Miss Lena Teo 4
(D) Contour Lines
• Contour lines show the height of the land.
o When the contour lines are drawn close together, it means that the height of the
land changes a lot over a short distance  represents a steep slope.
o When the contour lines are drawn far apart, it means that the height of the land
changes very little over a short distance  represents a gentle slope.
• Contour lines have regular intervals (ie. equal increase/decrease in height between each
line)
Now you try!
Q) Find the straight line distance
between the Chestnut Hill School and
the Dairy Farm:
1. Draw a straight line connecting
both locations.
2. Then use your ruler to measure
the distance between them.
Ruler measurement: _______ cm.
3. Refer to the scale on the map;
take note of the unit conversion.
1 cm (map) = 25 000 ___ (actual)
1 cm (map) = _______ m (actual)
1 cm (map) = ______ km (actual)
______ cm (map) = _______ km
(actual)
A) The straight line distance is
________km / _______ m.
Scale 1 : 25 000
Steep
slopeGentle
slope