Map Skills Worksheets

First map skills for kindergarten to 2nd grade: the seven continents and five oceans, the compass rose and north, south, east and west, reading a map key, and drawing a map of my own room.

Where Is It? reader cover
Free reader · Kindergarten

Where Is It?

A six-page picture book to print, cut and staple: one short line on every page, and three questions to talk about on the back.

Where Is It?, page 1: This is a map.Where Is It?, page 2: This is the map key.Where Is It?, page 3: This way is north.Where Is It?, page 4: I go to the park.Where Is It?, page 5: I go to the library.Where Is It?, page 6: I can make a map!
Download the book (PDF)

Free Map Skills worksheets

Each is a PDF to print right away, in black and white. Sheets with right answers have the answer key on page 2.

Continents and Oceans worksheet preview

Continents and Oceans

K-2

A world map drawn from real map data with the seven continents and five oceans labeled. Prints landscape.

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Label the Continents worksheet preview

Label the Continents

Grades 1-2

The same world map with numbers and letters: write each continent and ocean from the word bank. Answer key on page 2.

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The Compass Rose worksheet preview

The Compass Rose

K-2

A big compass rose to trace and color, with "Never Eat Soggy Waffles" to remember north, east, south and west.

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Which Way? worksheet preview

Which Way?

Grades 1-2

A town on a grid: what is north, south, east or west of each place? Answer key on page 2.

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Read the Map Key worksheet preview

Read the Map Key

K-2

A town map from above with a key: houses, trees, a school, a store, a pond and roads. Count, color and trace. Answer key on page 2.

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A Map of My Room worksheet preview

A Map of My Room

K-2

See a bed and a table from the side and from above, then draw a map of your room with a key.

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Map of My Community worksheet preview

Map of My Community

K-2

A town map from above with roads, a pond and four empty blocks: draw your own buildings, then make a map key.

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More K-2 social studies

All About Me, My Family, Where I Live, Community Helpers, and all topics on the social studies page.

Teaching map skills, step by step

A map shows a place from above. Start there: the A Map of My Room page shows a bed and a table from the side and from above, then children draw their own room as a map with a key. Next, read a map key on the town map, learn the four directions on the compass rose (Never Eat Soggy Waffles), and use them on the Which Way? grid.

The continents and oceans map is drawn from real map data, so every coastline is the right shape. Hang the labeled map on the wall and give older children the version to label themselves.

Reading about maps

The free Where Is It? book follows Wade as he reads a map of his town, finds the map key, and walks north to the park and east to the library. For maps of the United States, every state and the world, see the printable maps section, and for my room, my street and my town, the Where I Live book.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many continents and oceans are on the map?
Seven continents (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica) and five oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Southern), the way most US schools teach them.
Are there answer keys?
Yes. Label the Continents, Which Way? and Read the Map Key have their answer key on page 2 of the PDF.
What is the trick for remembering north, east, south and west?
"Never Eat Soggy Waffles": the first letters go round the compass rose clockwise from the top, N, E, S, W. The compass rose page has it printed under the rose.