Educational quiz app · Ages 5-10
This is what learning looks like
Educational quiz app · Ages 5-10
This is what learning looks like
No nagging required. Keep the learning going after the worksheet, with every question read aloud and Owee guiding each step.
Scan with your phone camera
- Family-friendly
- No ads
- Private
Free map skills worksheets
Map skills run through geography from Year 1 to Year 6. In KS1, children use the four compass points, north, south, east and west, and simple symbols in a map key, and they draw basic maps of their own. In KS2, they use all 8 points of a compass, 4- and 6-figure grid references, and symbols and keys on Ordnance Survey maps.
These four sheets follow that path for children aged about 5 to 10: compass directions and a first map key for KS1, then the 8-point compass and a countryside map with symbols to decode for KS2. Each one can be done at the table, then tried for real on a walk.
Children use compass directions, map symbols and keys to read and draw maps, moving on to the eight points of the compass, grid references and Ordnance Survey maps.
Which years study map skills?
Geography is set by key stage, so the timing varies from school to school. The four compass points and simple keys are often taught in Year 1 or Year 2. The 8-point compass often comes in Year 3 or Year 4, and reading map symbols in Years 3 to 5, with grid references later in KS2. Each step adds detail, from 'the shop is east of the park' to a six-figure grid reference.
Questions parents ask
How do I teach compass directions?
Start with north, then go clockwise: east, south, west. A phrase such as 'Naughty Elephants Squirt Water' helps with the order. Find north from your home with a phone compass, then give each other directions around the house or park.
What is a map key?
A key, sometimes called a legend, explains what the symbols on a map mean, such as a blue line for a river or a tent for a campsite. KS1 children make simple keys for their own maps; KS2 children read the standard symbols on printed maps.
Are these map worksheets free?
Yes. All four are free to print or save as a PDF, with no sign-up or email. They work well before a family walk or a day out with a map.
Educational quiz app · Ages 5-10
More learning in the Owee app
Owee turns topics like this into quizzes for children aged 5 to 10, and a treehouse grows as they learn. No ads, no chat, no strangers.
- Family-friendly
- No ads
- Private
Educational quiz app · Ages 5-10
More learning in the Owee app
Owee turns topics like this into quizzes for children aged 5 to 10, and a treehouse grows as they learn. No ads, no chat, no strangers.
Scan with your phone camera
- Family-friendly
- No ads
- Private