Page 12 - SST Class 05

2 The Map

The Map and I

A map is a drawing of a big or small piece of earth. It is like your photograph that shows your body
proportionately. It helps you to study the earth as a whole or a part of it. It helps you to know the land
features, distances, directions and other details.

A globe is a model of the earth, while a map is a drawing of the whole or part of the
earth. Let us first compare these two :

The Globe The Map

u It is spherical. u It is made on a plain surface.

u It is not easy to carry and use. u It can be carried easily.
u It occupies a lot of space. u It can be folded or rolled to save

the space.
u You can study only the earth u The whole or part of the earth can

as a whole. be studied with it.
u If you want to study a part of u It can be made for the whole or a
the earth, a very large globe will part of the earth.
be needed.

u It cannot be made part of a book. u It can be made part of a book.

Know It!

v The art or process of drawing or making maps is called cartography .

Types of Maps

You are going to visit a famous lake with your family, but don’t know the way to it.
What will you do? Tick the options :

u Keep asking people for directions.

u Carry a tourist map.

12 Contemporary Social Science-5