Maps and Locations
Class 5 · Mathematics
4 ideas in Class 5 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Cardinal Directions
Part of: Finding and Using Directions
North, South, East and West are the four main directions on Earth. East is where the sun rises, West is where it sets, and if you face the rising sun (East), North is on your left, South is on your right and West is behind you. A compass rose on a map shows these directions with a cross-like symbol or arrows.
Why it matters. Knowing directions helps you read maps, give directions to someone, and find your way in new places. It is also useful for understanding where places are in relation to each other.
Try it in two minutes
- Go outside early and face where the sun is rising. That way is East. If you stretch your right arm, it points South; your left arm points North; behind you is West.
- Now imagine you are standing in your room. Can you point to each direction without going outside?
- On a piece of paper, draw where things are in your home. Mark North at the top and see if it matches.
Try at home. Draw a map of your school ground or a nearby park. Mark North at the top using a compass rose. Place your own house and some nearby buildings on it.
Map Symbols and Keys
Part of: Reading Maps with Symbols and Finding Routes
A map uses small pictures or symbols to show real places. A hospital might be shown as a cross, a school as a building shape, or a park as a tree. The map key tells you what each symbol means. Without the key, you cannot read the map correctly.
Why it matters. Maps are everywhere: on your phone, in books, in the car. Learning to read symbols and keys helps you find places in your town, plan trips, and understand where things are.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a simple map of your neighborhood using basic shapes: a square for houses, a cross for the hospital, a book for the library.
- Make a key that explains what each symbol means.
- Show the map to a friend without telling them the key and see if they can guess what each symbol stands for.
Try at home. Find a real map of your city (online or in a book). Look at the map key and identify five different symbols. Draw what each symbol represents.
Following Routes and Planning Paths on Maps
Part of: Reading Maps with Symbols and Finding Routes
A route is the path you take to go from one place to another. On a map, you can trace a route by following roads, streets or lines, keeping directions in mind. Some routes are shorter than others. By studying the map, you can plan the best way to reach your destination.
Why it matters. Planning a route on a map saves time and keeps you from getting lost. This skill helps you plan trips, understand how cities are organized, and solve real-world problems about distances and directions.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a simple map of your neighborhood with streets and buildings.
- Pick a starting place and a destination. Use your finger to trace different paths between them.
- Count the turns needed for each route and find the shortest one.
Try at home. Use a map of your city and trace three different routes to a place you visit often, like a shop or a park. Which route has the fewest turns?
Coordinate Systems on Grid Maps
Part of: Reading Maps with Symbols and Finding Routes
A coordinate system uses numbers and letters to pinpoint exact locations on a grid. Like a zoo map divided into squares, each square has a number for its column (left-right) and a number for its row (up-down). For example, (3, 2) means column 3, row 2. This is like using an address for each spot.
Why it matters. Coordinates help you find exact locations quickly and clearly. This is how video game maps work, how libraries organize books, and how ships and planes navigate. Learning coordinates prepares you for advanced math and real-world applications.
Try it in two minutes
- Make a simple grid on paper with columns numbered 1 to 5 and rows numbered 1 to 5.
- Place toy animals or drawings on different squares and record their coordinates.
- Give your child a coordinate like (2, 3) and ask them to find what is in that square.
Try at home. Create a treasure map with a 10 by 10 grid. Mark treasures at specific coordinates and write clues that use coordinates instead of direction words.
What your child will practise
- Cardinal Directions: Desert Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Cardinal Directions: Treasure Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Coordinate Systems on Grid Maps: Space Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Following Routes and Planning Paths on Maps: Space Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Map Symbols and Keys: Jungle Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Quiz: Cardinal Directions (8 questions)
- Quiz: Coordinate Systems on Grid Maps (8 questions)
- Quiz: Following Routes and Planning Paths on Maps (8 questions)
- Quiz: Map Symbols and Keys (8 questions)