Map Symbols and a Key: Free KS1 Geography Worksheet

What is on the worksheet

Six clear, friendly map symbols are laid out in a tidy grid: a tree, a house, a small church with a cross, a wavy river, a straight road and a school building. The river and road are drawn from above, as they would be on a real map. The tree and buildings are drawn from the side, which is easier for young children to recognise; real maps often draw these as simpler shapes seen from above.

Below the picture there is a matching task and a short colouring task. A word bank lists the six things the symbols stand for, and there is a numbered line for each answer. The aim is not to draw a perfect map, but to grasp the big idea: a symbol is a small picture that stands for something real, and a key tells you what it means.

How to use it at home or in the classroom

Print the worksheet, or open it on a tablet and print from there. Work through the matching task together first. Point to each symbol and ask what it reminds your child of, then help them find the right word in the word bank and write it on the matching line. Talk about why a map maker would use a cross for a church or a wavy line for a river. Then do the colouring, and ask why blue suits a river and green suits a tree.

One thing to watch: the school's door is shaped like a letter H. On many maps a letter H means a hospital, so it is worth saying that this drawing shows a school. In class it works well as a starter before reading a simple local map, or before a walk around the school grounds to spot real versions of the symbols.

What your child will learn

By the end of the activity, your child should understand that maps use symbols, small pictures that stand for real features, and that a key is the box that explains what each symbol means. They will be able to recognise six common symbols: a tree, a house, a church, a river, a road and a school.

This is an important early map skill. Once a child knows that one small picture can stand for something much bigger in the real world, they can begin to read simple maps, plans and atlases. It also builds the vocabulary, symbol and key, that they will meet again throughout primary geography.

A note for teachers

This worksheet supports the Key Stage 1 geography programme of study for geographical skills and fieldwork, specifically using basic symbols in a key when devising or reading a simple map. It pairs well with a class map of the local area, a simple plan of the classroom or playground, or a short fieldwork walk to spot the real features the symbols represent.

A point worth sharing with pupils: real maps, such as those from the Ordnance Survey, use a standard set of symbols, so the exact symbol can vary from map to map. What matters at this stage is the underlying idea, that symbols stand for real things and a key explains them. There is no log-in and no watermark, and you are welcome to print copies for your class and to link to this page from your school website or newsletter.

Frequently asked questions