This document discusses various skills for reading topographical maps, including identifying compass direction and bearing, measuring straight-line distances, understanding contour lines and map symbols, and using scale. It provides steps for determining compass direction and bearing between two points using a protractor. It also outlines how to measure straight-line distances on a map using a linear scale or strip of paper. The objective is to use contour lines to describe land relief and map symbols to locate features.

1. Topographical Map Skills

2.  Keyword: ‘from’
 When identifying direction, take
note of the word ‘from’, which
stands for the point you are taking
direction from/start point.
Recap: Identifying Compass Direction

3. Steps
1. Place a right-angled cross on Location A
2. Indicate the cardinal points on the cross (N)
3. Draw a straight line between the Locations A and B
4. Place a protractor on the paper such that the centre of
the protractor is on Location A
5. Read clockwise from 0° to get the compass bearing
Recap: Steps to identify compass bearing
(p.45)

4. Steps
Compass bearing more than 180°
 Repeat step 1 – 3
 4. Turn the protractor around and measure the angle.
 5. Add 180° to the bearing measured by the protractor
in a clockwise direction
Recap: Steps to identify compass bearing
(p.45)

5. 1. Measure straight- line distances between two points.
2. Use contour lines to describe the relief of the land.
3. Use map symbols to comprehend and locate features on the
map.
Lesson Objective

6.  Scale: Ratio of distance on a
map and actual distance on
the ground
 Purpose: Use to find out the
actual distance between two
points on the ground
Topographical map features : Scale

7.  Affects the level of details that can
be shown
 Smaller scale = Big area (e.g.
country map) with few details
(E.g.1: 80 000 000 pg 198)
 Larger scale = Small area (e.g.
city map) with many details
(E.g. 1:25 000)
Topographical map features : Scale

8. Types of scales
 A scale can either be a statement scale or a linear scale
Geographical Investigations and Skills8
Type of
scale
Statement Line or linear
Example 1 cm represents 0.5 km
What it
means
A distance of 1 cm on
the map represents a
distance of 0.5 km on
the ground
On the linear scale, 2
cm represents 1 km on
the ground

9. Measuring Straight-Line
Distance

10. How to measure straight-line distances using
linear scale
Steps:
1.Draw a straight line joining
point X and point Y
2.Using a strip of paper,
mark out the distance
between the two points
10

11. How to measure straight-line distances using
linear scale
Steps:
3. Place the strip of paper on the linear scale and read off
the measured distance
Place Point Y on a whole number to read the decimal
value easily
Geographical Investigations and Skills11

12. Practice Time!

13. Contour Lines

14.  Join places of the same places of the same height.
 Show the height of the land.
 Make use of contour lines to describe relief.
 Relief refers to the physical shape of the Earth’s Surface.
Contour Lines (TB pg 40 & 42)

15.  Cross section of a physical landform
Contour Lines (TB pg 40 & 42)

16. Using Map Symbols

17. Topographical map features (TB pg 40)
 Legend: Shows and explains
the symbols that are used in a
map.

18.  Help us to understand maps and locate features on maps
Map symbols
Shows us linear
features such as
roads and
railways
Shows us features that
occupy a small area
Show us features that
occupy a wide area

19. Application

20. What do the
yellow and
orange
coding
represents?

22. Practice Time!

23. 1. Measure straight- line distances between two points.
2. Use contour lines to describe the relief of the land.
3. Use map symbols to comprehend and locate features on the
map.
Recap

24. Topographical Map Skills
Grid
References
Four
Figure
Six figure
Compass
Direction
Compass
Bearing
Measuring
straight line
distance
Understanding
Map Symbols
Understanding
Contour lines
- Find out the
distance.
- Understand the
location better.
- Identify the
location.