You will learn
- Say what a symbol is.
- Read a key.
- Use symbols.
- Make own symbols.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- A symbol stands for something real.
- A key explains the symbols.
- Colours help us read maps.
- We can make our own symbols.
Words to know
a picture or sign that stands for something
a list that explains map symbols
the name of the map
shade such as blue or green
1. Discover: The map key
Fatmata looks at a map of her school. A blue shape is the water tank. A green shape is the garden. Squares are classrooms. A line is the path. “How do I know?” she asks. Ms Smith points to a small box with pictures and words. “That is the key. It tells us what each symbol means.”
Think: What does the key do?
2. Understand: Symbols
Idea 1: Symbols
A symbol is a picture or sign that stands for something real. A blue shape may stand for water. A small square may stand for a building. A line may stand for a road or path.
Idea 2: The key
The key is a box that lists each symbol and what it means. Always check the key and the title before you read a map.
Idea 3: Colours
Maps often use blue for water, green for trees or grass, brown for hills, grey for roads and red or black for buildings. Colours help us understand quickly.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Read the key
What is blue?
- Find the key.
- Find blue.
- Read.
Answer: Blue is water.
Example 2 (We do it together): Choose a symbol
Symbol for a school.
- Think.
- Draw.
- Add to key.
Answer: A small flag.
Example 3 (You try): Colour
Colour a map.
Show the steps and answer
- Choose.
- Colour.
- Check key.
Answer: Green for trees.
Did you know?
Some maps use symbols that are the same worldwide, such as a cross for a hospital or a tent for a campsite.
Why this matters
Symbols let a map show a lot of information in a small space.
4. Explore: Make a key
Draw four symbols for school, market, river and road. Make a key with a box. Ask a partner to use your key.
- Draw symbols.
- Make key.
- Swap.
- Check.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? A clear key helped a lot.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- A symbol is ___.
- A key tells us ___.
- Blue stands for ___.
- Green stands for ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is a symbol?
A sign for something real.
Question 2. What is a key?
Explains symbols.
Question 3. What does blue show?
Water.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is a symbol?
- What is a key?
- What does blue show?
- What does green show?
- What do we read first?
Level 2: Grow
- Why use symbols?
- Why make a key?
- Why use colours?
Level 3: Stretch
- Make four symbols.
- Make a key.
- Swap and read.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Social Studies in everyday life
Make a symbol for a hospital.
Show a sample answer
Cross.
Another one. Find a map with a key and show a family member.
Show a sample answer
Share.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: They are signs.
Fix: Check the key.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say what a symbol is.
- I can read a key.
- I can use symbols.
- I can make own symbols.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- A symbol stands for something real.
- A key explains the symbols.
- Colours help us read maps.
- We can make our own symbols.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Drawing a classroom map. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is a symbol? [2 marks]
- What is a key? [3 marks]
- Make two symbols and say what they mean. [3 marks]
- Why check the title and key? [2 marks]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Meaning [1]; example [1]
- List [1]; symbols [1]; use [1]
- Two symbols [2]; meanings [1]
- Know the map [1]; read well [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is a symbol?
- What is a key?
- What does blue show?
- What does green show?
- What do we read first?
- Why use symbols?
- Why make a key?
- Why use colours?
- Make four symbols.
- Make a key.
Homework
Make a key for a map of your home with four symbols.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is a symbol? | A sign for something real. | 1 |
| 2. What is a key? | Explains symbols. | 1 |
| 3. What does blue show? | Water. | 1 |
| 4. What does green show? | Trees or grass. | 1 |
| 5. What do we read first? | Title and key. | 1 |
| 6. Why use symbols? | Show much in little space. | 1 |
| 7. Why make a key? | So others understand. | 1 |
| 8. Why use colours? | Quick reading. | 1 |
| 9. Make four symbols. | Symbols. | 1 |
| 10. Make a key. | Key. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 A sign for something real.; 2 Explains symbols.; 3 Water.; 4 Trees or grass.; 5 Title and key.. Level 2: 1 Show much in little space.; 2 So others understand.; 3 Quick reading.. Level 3: 1 Symbols.; 2 Key.; 3 Read..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what a symbol is | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Read a key | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Use symbols | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Make own symbols | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “Symbols are real pictures.” They are signs.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Draw symbols for toys and a key.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns about symbols and keys. Please look at maps and keys together. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Look at a map.
- Ask What does this symbol mean?
- Make a map key.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what a symbol is; read a key; use symbols; make own symbols.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 1 ideas: places, directions and natural features.
Materials. Paper, crayons. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Prepare a sample map with a key.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Show a map.
Explanation (10 min). Teach symbols.
Guided activity (10 min). Make keys.
Independent activity (10 min). Share.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What are map symbols? What is a key?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with a picture, story, map or local example. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always ask “how do you know?” and invite more than one view. Treat every family, culture and community with respect, and never ask learners to share private information.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use pictures, maps, real objects and short sentences, and let learners work with a partner. Let learners point, show, act or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example from their own community and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “Symbols are real pictures.” They are signs.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Draw symbols for toys and a key. Enrichment. Find one new example near your home or school, draw or write about it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: NCSS standards and C3 Framework, Cambridge Primary Humanities and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Social Studies curriculum, Grade 1 Unit 6, topic 8; NCSS C3 Framework, geographic representations and spatial views; Cambridge Primary Humanities, places and maps; IB Primary Years Programme, where we are in place and time. These sources informed the lesson.