Skill: Read a simple picture map

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

A learner interprets a simple picture map as a representation of places and their relative positions, using a key and spatial language such as above, below, left, right, near, far, next to, and between to identify landmarks and reason about a short route. The understanding is relational rather than based on the drawings’ sizes; scaled distances, coordinates, compass bearings, and complex routes are not included.

Detailed Explanation: Read a simple picture map

A picture map uses small pictures or symbols to show where places are. Use the key to find out what each symbol means. Look at where the pictures are compared with one another, not at how big the pictures are.

Key:

  • 🌳 = park
  • 🏫 = school
  • 🏥 = clinic
  • 🍎 = store
  • 🐟 = pond
  • 🏠 = home

Picture map:

🌳 Park🏫 School🏥 Clinic
🍎 Store🐟 Pond🏠 Home

Problem: Mia is at the school. How can she get to the home?

  1. Find the school: 🏫.
  2. Find the home: 🏠.
  3. The pond is below the school.
  4. The home is to the right of the pond.
  5. So Mia can move down to the pond, then right to the home.

Answer: The home is below and to the right of the school. Mia goes down to the pond and then right to the home.

Learn by doing: Read a simple picture map

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Map Path (Left/Right/Up/Down) - Destination to Three Instructions


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