AI Tutor
Imagine finding a mystery drawing full of tiny green trees, blue patches, and paths — but you have no clue if it is a pirate island, a zoo, or your own school!
A map is a drawing of a real place seen from high up above, like looking straight down from an airplane.
How can you instantly tell what place a map is showing?

The Map Title

The title is the name of the map, and it is usually written in big letters across the top.
It tells you the name of the place and the topic or purpose of the map, such as Oakridge Elementary School or Sunnyvale City Park.
Now you know where you are — but how do you know what all those tiny pictures inside the map mean?

The Map Legend

A legend (also called a map key) is a small guide box that explains what each symbol means.
Real buildings and lakes are too big to draw in full detail, so mapmakers use small symbols and colors to stand in for real things.
Ready to test your new detective skills on a real map?