What this lesson teaches
I can present fieldwork findings with clear maps, graphs, sketches and text.
Syllabus K335, Topic 1.3, Key Question 4. How to present findings?
I can read maps, graphs, photographs and texts, and separate what they show from what they suggest.
Syllabus K335, Topic 1.3, Key Question 4 (part). How to present findings?
Make a guess
On a map, a park is 300 m east and 400 m north of a school. The only path goes east, then north. How far do you walk?
- 400 m, the longer of the two legs.
- You cannot tell without latitude and longitude.
- 500 m, in a straight line.
- 700 m, along the path.
Show the answer
700 m, along the path.
You must follow the actual route: 300 m east plus 400 m north. The question asks how far someone travels, not the straight-line gap.
Use the map's north arrow and scale, and measure the actual route when a question asks how far someone travels.
Read the title, date, key and north arrow first. On the practice map, north is up and each square is 100 m. The park is 200 m east and 200 m north of the school, so it is north-east of the school.
The marked route via the library is 200 m east plus 200 m north: 400 m. The straight diagonal is only about 283 m, but there is no path that way. Measure what the question asks for.
Latitude is position north or south of the equator. Longitude is position east or west of the prime meridian. Give latitude first. For example, 1.30 degrees N, 103.80 degrees E is north of the equator and east of the prime meridian.
A scale of 1:10,000 means 1 cm on the map is 100 m on the ground. So 4 cm is 400 m. On screens, use the scale bar, because zooming changes sizes. When making a map, use points, lines and areas. Add a title, date, north arrow, scale, key, author and sources.
- Direction
- If the park is north-east of the school, the school is south-west of the park.
- Latitude, longitude
- North-south first, then east-west.
- 1:10,000
- 1 cm on the map = 100 m on the ground.
Step by step
Orient and locate
Use north and coordinates.
Measure the right thing
Follow the actual route, not a straight line.
Convert and label
Apply the scale and give units.
Worked example: Do not reverse the direction
If the park is north-east of the school, then the school is south-west of the park. Always check which place the question starts from.
Watch out for this
You can always measure a screen map with a ruler using its printed ratio.
Zooming changes the size. Use the scale bar or grid spacing instead.
Check your understanding
On the practice map, how long is the school-library-park route?
- 400 m: 200 m east plus 200 m north along the paths.
- About 283 m along the straight diagonal.
- 200 m, the eastward distance from the school to the library.
Show the answer
400 m: 200 m east plus 200 m north along the paths.
Yes. Follow the marked route.