What are maps for?
Maps are not just for “doing geography.” We use maps almost every day in our adult lives, to get about town, to plan a vacation, to invite friends to a special event, to find a room in a new school, … the uses are too many to list. In fact, map reading and map writing form a basic lifelong literacy skill. Maps and map symbols are part of everyday life Just getting about the city requires a knowledge of all those international symbols such as These symbols are also found on street maps. More than any other visual text, maps form a direct link between the children’s world and literacy. Learning map symbols such as these helps children to understand the community around them and to build confidence in participating in it. Back to top Maps help us to plan our lives We use maps often in everyday life. Whether it’s locating a room in a museum or an animal in a zoo, visiting relatives, or finding the local sports center – we use maps for finding our way, giving directions, and meeting frien
