Mathematics

Advanced

50 mins

Teacher/Student led

Learning Goals

Learning Outcomes

Lesson Files

+80 XP

Teacher-led from the board. Pupils do not need a device, but can follow on one.

What you need:
IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Interpreting Scale Maps and Distances

Learn to read a map scale and convert distances from paper to real-world measurements. Measure map routes to the nearest half-centimetre and use multiplication to find actual distances in kilometres.

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1 Getting Started
2 Watch and Notice
3 Try It Together
4 Record Your Measurements in Your Copy
5 Class Challenge
6 What Did We Notice?
7 What's Next
Pupil practice

Your turn

Your teacher is running this lesson on the board. Here is the part you can try yourself.

Your written work is on page 90

Manipulative task

1 - Getting Started ~4 mins

Illustration for Getting Started Here is a map of part of Ireland. Down in the corner it says the scale: 1 cm = 2 km.

Key point

Two towns on the map sit 3 cm apart on the paper. How far apart are they really, out on the ground?

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+5 XP

2 - Watch and Notice ~10 mins

Watch how each measured centimetre turns into a real distance. Read the scale first every time, and be ready to say the rule you spot.

From map measurement to real distance

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+10 XP

3 - Try It Together ~11 mins

You each get the Scale map, with three routes marked on it: the straight road, the river crossing and the coast path. You will also need your ruler. The scale on the map is 1 cm = 2 km .

Key point

Measure each one to the nearest half-centimetre, then multiply by 2 to find the real distance in kilometres.

We measure and convert the three routes together, in the order they are listed on your map.

Hands-on Task

+15 XP

4 - Record Your Measurements in Your Copy ~2 mins

COPYBOOK MOMENT

In your maths copy, write the scale at the top: 1 cm = 2 km.

Then, for each map distance you measured, write the map distance in centimetres, the multiplication you did, and the real-world distance in kilometres, one under the other:

3.0 cm × 2 = 6 km
4.5 cm × 2 = 9 km
6.5 cm × 2 = 13 km

+10 XP

Pupil practice

Module 8 · Location, Transformations and Scale Shape & Space

Lesson 97 · Interpreting Scale Maps and Distances

Download Activity Book page (PDF)

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