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. These are drawn in a simple plan view, the bird's-eye style used on real maps, with bold, even outlines that are comfortable for small hands to colour.

Below the picture there is a colouring task and a matching task. A word bank lists the six things the symbols stand for, and there are write-on lines so children can record their answers. 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. Start with the colouring, which is a relaxed way in: you might suggest green for the tree, blue for the river and grey for the road, just as a map maker might choose.

Then work through the matching task together. 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 line. Talk about why a map maker would use a cross for a church or a wavy line for a river. 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, no watermark and no catch, so you are welcome to print copies for your class and to link to this page from your school website or newsletter.

Frequently asked questions