- \n
- 5<\/span>Tools for Making Your Map Look Its Best<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- 6<\/span>The Four Stages of Completing a Map<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
- 7<\/span>Other Geography Resources<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
How to Label Small Areas on a Map<\/h2>\n
A mapmaker\u2019s goal to make the map clear and easy to read.<\/strong> There are many ways of labeling a smaller area on a map where there is not much room to write.This lesson applies specifically to our USA PLACES AND GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES<\/a> map. The area showing the states of the northeast is small compared to the states in the western part of the USA. It is easy to label the full name of a larger state because there is lots of room to write. With the small states, this is challenging!<\/p>\n
![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/leaderline2-150x150.jpg\" "\\"Map")
<\/span>![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/leaderlinepic-150x150.jpg\" "\\"Map")
<\/span><\/p>\n- \n
- 1<\/span>Write out the whole name of each state<\/span><\/strong>If you prefer to write out the whole name of each state, use the area to the right of the states. Label the name of each state next to it and use a leader line to connect the name to the state.<\/span><\/li>\n
- 2<\/span>Use state abbreviations<\/span><\/strong>Some mapmakers prefer to use the state abbreviation: it is your choice. This takes up less room and allows more room to draw in other details, like cities and other geographic features. That is why it is easier to label a map first before drawing in other details!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n
Color Choices<\/h2>\n
Coloring is a very important and fun aspect of working on your map. Colors should match the geographic details of a map when possible. <\/strong>Here are come suggestions:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Mountains \u2014 use brown and green<\/span><\/li>\n
- Lakes and Rivers \u2014 blue<\/span><\/li>\n
- Deserts \u2014 light brown, shade with yellow or orange<\/span><\/li>\n
- Forests, or vegetation areas \u2014 green<\/span><\/li>\n
- Divider lines between regions \u2014 a bright color, drawn with a fine line.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Roads, routes or highways \u2014 dark colors such as black, brown or red<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Using colored pencils is the best way to add color. Areas can be filled in completely or shaded along boundaries.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n
Symbols in a Map Key<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Symbols are small pictures that stand for different features on a map.<\/strong> A symbol is often drawn to look like what it represents. For example, a triangular shape is often used to denote a mountain. A desert is often shown by a group of dots that might look a little bit like sand. A forest could have little shapes that look like trees. A railroad can be shown as a line with bars drawn across it, like a train\u2019s track.<\/p>\n
All the symbols for a map are often grouped together in a MAP KEY for reference.<\/strong> Sometimes the MAP KEY is a box shape where the symbols are arranged. Sometimes the symbols are just displayed in a more freeform manner, without a box around them.<\/p>\n
When you are coloring symbols, it is good to match colors to what you are depicting<\/strong>. For instance, mountains can be drawn brown and green. If a school is shown it could be red (like a brick building). Trees and wetlands are green, and so on.<\/p>\n
Symbols should make some sense.<\/strong> If you are designing symbols for a map, think about shapes that remind you in some way of what you are showing. For instance, you might use an envelope shape, as in the key show here, to represent a Post Office building.<\/p>\n
In atlases and professional maps, there are also Map Keys that indicate different kinds of lettering, the size of cities, population and other map details.<\/p>\n
Here are some examples of Map Keys we use:<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"Treasure](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/treasuremapkey.jpg\" "\\"Treasure")
<\/span>![\"State](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/mapskeystate.jpg\" "\\"State")
<\/span>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/basickey-94x300.jpg\" "\\"basickey-94x300\\"")
<\/span>![\"Aztec](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/aztecmapkey.jpg\" "\\"Aztec")
<\/span><\/p>\nBack to top<\/a><\/p>\n
Coloring & Shading<\/h2>\n
Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n
Tools for Making Your Map Look It’s Best<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/tools-EW.png\" "\\"tools-EW\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nDo’s<\/h4>\n
- \n
- The best tools for student mapmakers are colored pencils and graphite pencils with very sharp points for labeling.<\/span><\/li>\n
- It is important to have a good eraser. You may make a mistake, or spell a name wrong, or want to change the position of a label.<\/span><\/li>\n
- A good pencil sharpener is helpful too.<\/span><\/li>\n
- A mechanical pencil is useful for labeling areas that are small.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dont’s<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Avoid using ballpoint pens and markers that cannot be erased.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Avoid using crayons \u2014 colored pencils allow finer detail and shading.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When you are making a map, it is made to be seen by others. A map is made to be displayed. The key to making an effective, legible map is neatness.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n
The Four Stages of Completing a Map<\/strong><\/h2>\n
When you are labeling a map, there are different stages that you go through, one at a time. Each stage is important and you should try to be a neat as possible, to prepare for the next. We call this working \u201cStep-by-Step\u201d, and that is how our digital files came to be named \u201cStep-by-Step\u201d Mapping.Since each map is different, the stages may vary slightly. But generally speaking, most of these features below are addressed. Here we show a small segment of our state map of NEW HAMPSHIRE, with each stage filled in as an example.<\/p>\n
01<\/p>\n
Labeling Places<\/strong><\/p>\n
The first thing to do in the early stage is to label the names of places: countries or cities, continents or regions. Here on the New Hampshire map, cities and the state of VERMONT is labeled to the left too.<\/p>\n
![\"Labeling](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/NH1.jpg\" "\\"Labeling")
<\/span>02<\/p>\nBodies of Water<\/strong><\/p>\n
Often in the next stage, bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, are labeled, then colored. Here you can see rivers labeled.<\/p>\n
![\"Bodies](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/NH2.jpg\" "\\"Bodies")
<\/span>03<\/p>\nGeographic Details<\/strong><\/p>\n
You can next draw in mountain ranges, deserts, valleys and other geographic details, using the symbols shown in the Map Key. Fill them in with the appropriate color. Here you can see some forested land in New Hampshire drawn in, as well as mountains.<\/p>\n
![\"Geographic](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/NH3.jpg\" "\\"Geographic")
<\/span>04<\/p>\nAdditional Features<\/strong><\/p>\n
To add more detail, color other features, such as borders, illustrations and the compass rose. On some of our maps you can color our Earthworm mascot. Sometimes, especially on state or city maps, transportation details, such highways, railroad routes, or airports can be drawn in. Some maps are more complicated and have an extra stages, relating to history or regions. Or you can draw in extra details of your own, or make new illustrations\u2013 like the NH state bird shown here!\u2013 to further decorate and embellish your map.<\/p>\n
![\"Additional](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/NH4.jpg\" "\\"Additional")
<\/span>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/worm-down-arrow.png\" "\\"worm-down-arrow\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nWestern Canada Step-by-Step<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
BONUS: Step-by-Step Labeling Western Canada<\/strong><\/p>\n
Our Step-by-Step method works well with all of our classroom maps. Try it with your students, and they will end up with a map they will be proud of! <\/p>\n
- Avoid using crayons \u2014 colored pencils allow finer detail and shading.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- It is important to have a good eraser. You may make a mistake, or spell a name wrong, or want to change the position of a label.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Lakes and Rivers \u2014 blue<\/span><\/li>\n
- 2<\/span>Use state abbreviations<\/span><\/strong>Some mapmakers prefer to use the state abbreviation: it is your choice. This takes up less room and allows more room to draw in other details, like cities and other geographic features. That is why it is easier to label a map first before drawing in other details!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- 6<\/span>The Four Stages of Completing a Map<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n