Understanding Maps and Their Components

Have you ever used a map to find your way? 🧭 Whether it's locating your school 🏫, the nearest railway station 🚉, or even planning a trip, maps play an important role in our daily life. In this chapter, you'll explore what maps are and how they help us understand the world 🌍. Maps come in different types—physical maps 🏔️, political maps 🗳️, and thematic maps 📊—each showing different information. You’ll learn the key components of a map like distance (using scale 📏), direction (cardinal 🧭 and intermediate), and symbols 🗂️ used to represent places and features, especially those from the Survey of India 🏢. You’ll practice reading simple city maps, drawing rough maps of your school or locality 🏘️, and even creating maps like a playground using scale! 📐 Ever wondered how a map is different from a globe 🌐? Or how atlases 📚 help you explore the world? We’ll also learn about the concept of grids 🔢, which helps in finding exact locations, and how directions guide navigation 🚶‍♂️.