Understand the idea.
Landmarks help us find places
A landmark is a feature that helps people recognise a place. A gate, pond or playground is useful because it is fixed and easy to find again. A label connects the real feature with its symbol on the map.
Choose landmarks that will still be there when someone follows your directions. A passing dog or a person walking through the park can move, so their positions are unreliable route clues.
Make the route clear
Give a route a clear start and finish, then name landmarks in the order they are passed. “Go past the bench to the kiosk” is useful only when the listener also knows where to begin.
Keep the map’s viewpoint fixed when using left and right. If using compass directions, check the north arrow first. North points up on this park map, but another map could be arranged differently.
See the method in action.
Find the middle landmark
Which landmark is between the playground and garden in the top row?
Worked solution
- 1
Locate the two named end landmarks.
The playground is on the left of the top row and the garden is on the right.
- 2
Look between them in that same row.
The middle feature lies between the playground and garden.
- 3
Read the middle label.
It says Pond, so the required landmark is the pond.
The pond.
Describe a route
Describe a route along the bottom row from gate to kiosk.
Worked solution
- 1
Name the starting landmark.
The route begins at the gate, which is the left feature in the bottom row.
- 2
Follow the bottom row to the right.
The bench comes next, so it is the landmark passed on the way.
- 3
Name the finishing landmark.
Continuing right reaches the kiosk: from the gate, go right past the bench to the kiosk.
From the gate, go right past the bench to the kiosk.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
Why is a gate a useful landmark?
Show answer & reasoning
It is a recognisable fixed feature.
A gate is useful because it is a fixed, recognisable feature. Someone can match its map label to the same gate on another visit.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Which landmark is in the top-right part of the park?
- What landmark is directly above the bench?
- Name a landmark passed along the bottom row from gate to kiosk.
- Which is more reliable as a landmark: a permanent bridge or a passing cyclist? Explain.
- Describe a route along the top row from playground to garden.
- On this map, do you go north or south from the gate towards the playground?
Read the worked solutions
- Which landmark is in the top-right part of the park?
Find the right-hand feature of the top row.
The garden. - What landmark is directly above the bench?
They are in the middle column.
The pond. - Name a landmark passed along the bottom row from gate to kiosk.
It lies between the gate and kiosk.
The bench. - Which is more reliable as a landmark: a permanent bridge or a passing cyclist? Explain.
The bridge stays in one place; the cyclist moves.
A permanent bridge. - Describe a route along the top row from playground to garden.
Name the start, the landmark passed and the finish.
Go right from the playground, past the pond, to the garden. - On this map, do you go north or south from the gate towards the playground?
The north arrow points up, towards the playground.
North.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum
Bird's-eye representations; landmarks; relative position; making plans.
Official curriculum source ↗