BOLTSS Map Making Skills

Name:

Date:

Map making tools and compass illustration

📚 Part 1: Understanding BOLTSS

1. What does the acronym BOLTSS stand for? Fill in the missing words:

B - _______________

O - _______________

L - _______________

T - _______________

S - _______________

2. Which BOLTSS element shows the direction north on a map?

Border

Orientation

Legend

Scale

3. A map scale of 1cm = 100m means that 1 centimetre on the map represents _______ metres in real life.

4. Which elements of BOLTSS help readers understand what symbols mean on a map? (Select all that apply)

Border

Legend

Title

Source

✏️ Part 2: Map Analysis

5. Look at any map in your classroom or textbook. List three features you would include in a legend for a city map:

6. Why is it important to include a source when creating a map?

7. Explain why a border is necessary for a good map:

🎨 Part 3: Design Your Map Layout

8. In the box below, sketch a basic layout showing where you would place each BOLTSS element on your city map. Label each element clearly.

9. Extension Activity: Create three different symbols you could use in your legend to represent: parks, schools, and shopping centres. Draw them below and explain why each symbol is appropriate.

10. If your city map covers an area that is 2 kilometres wide in real life, and you want your map to be 20 centimetres wide on paper, what scale would you use?

Scale: 1cm = _______ metres