Maps Teaching Resources
Bring printable maps of Australia and countries around the world, map worksheets and activities and a whole lot more into your HASS lesson planning! This teaching resource collection was created by the primary teachers at Teach Starter to help you familiarise your students with different countries and their positions within the world.
This teaching resource collection includes both blank and labelled maps of various countries in the southern and northern hemispheres, so you can make the edits you need to fit your lesson planning needs.
New to teaching maps? Read on for a primer from our teacher team including a kid-friendly definition of maps, plus a look at what students should know about this tool before they leave primary school.
What Are Maps? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Trying to explain maps to your students? Here's a simple definition for kids:
A map is like a picture of a place, like your room, your school, or your city. It helps you understand where things are and how to get to them.
Maps are made up of special symbols and colours to help you find a variety of different things, like roads, rivers, mountains, and buildings. By using a map, you can find your way to a new place and explore the world around you!
What Are the Different Types of Maps?
Throughout primary school, students will encounter a variety of maps. Some are more general (like a map showing state boundaries), while others contain more detailed images that pinpoint right where their school sits in a neighbourhood! Each map type serves its own purpose and can teach our students more about their community and our world.
Here's a look at some of the various types of maps you might share with your students:
- Political map — No, this isn't about politics! A political map shows us the boundaries and locations of countries, states, and cities, as well as other man-made features such as roads.
- Physical map —We use physical maps to see the physical features of an area, such as mountains, rivers, and lakes.
- Topographic map — Based on the concept of 'topography,' this type of map the elevation and contours of an area and is often used for hiking or other outdoor activities.
- Climate map — Just as the name implies, this kind of map shows the different types of climate in a region, such as temperature and precipitation patterns.
- Road map — We don't see paper versions of these much anymore, but a road map shows the network of roads in an area and is typically used for driving directions.
- Geological map — A geological map shows the types of rocks and minerals found in an area, as well as fault lines and other geological features.
- Nautical map— Taking to the water? A nautical map will come in handy! It shows the features of bodies of water, such as depth, currents, and underwater hazards.
- Thematic map — A thematic map shows a specific theme or topic, such as population density, natural resources or political affiliations.
What Should Kids Know About Maps?
By the time they leave primary school, students should have a solid understanding of maps and how to use them to explore the broader world! Here are some of those map basics they should know:
- What's the purpose of a map? Kids should know that maps offer a visual representations of the world, which help us to locate places, find directions, and understand the relationship between different areas.
- The basic features — From a compass rose to a map key, kids need to be able to identify the features of a map and know how to use them.
- Reading and interpreting maps — Whether it's a road map, topographical map or weather maps, kids should know how to read it and how to interpret it.
- Cardinal directions — Kids should know the difference between north, south, east and west and how to use the four cardinal directions to navigate a map.
- Locating places — Kids need to learn to use coordinates — such as latitude and longitude — and how to locate places using them, as well as pinpointing location with the use of landmarks, street names, and other features.
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Plotting Earthquakes Worksheet & Map Activity
Teach longitude and latitude with a printable earthquakes plotting worksheet and map activity.
- Free Plan
Map of Indonesia
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of Indonesia.
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Map of Fiji
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of Fiji.
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Acclimatised Civilisations – Inquiry Project
Research a civilisation and how it adapted to its environment and landscape through a student-led inquiry task.
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Acclimatised Civilisations: Egypt – Workbook
Learn about the physical and human geography of Egypt and the Sahara Desert with this inquiry-based mapping activity.
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Acclimatised Civilisations: Andes Mountains – Workbook
Learn about the physical and human geography of the Andes mountains in South America with this inquiry-based mapping activity.
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Acclimatised Civilisations: Greece – Workbook
Learn about the physical and human geography of Greece and the Mediterranean region with this inquiry-based mapping activity.
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Continents and Oceans - Interactive Peg Cards
Turn world geography into a digital learning experience with this interactive activity.
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Map of Japan
A map of Japan featuring the names of the main islands and well-known landmarks.
- Free Plan
Mapping a Journey – Worksheet
A worksheet that allows students to create a map of a journey when exploring local places.
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Map of the Northern Territory Template
Record and represent data about the location of significant places with this printable blank map of the Northern Territory.
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World Vegetation Zones - Mapping Template
Locate and explore different vegetation zones around the world with this mapping worksheet.
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Map of Vanuatu
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of Vanuatu.
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Map of Papua New Guinea
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of Papua New Guinea.
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Blank Map of Antarctica - Template
Record and represent data about the location of significant places with this printable blank map of the continent of Antarctica.
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Continents and Oceans - Cover It! Game
Locate the continents and oceans of the world on a map with this engaging, hands-on Geography game.
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7 Continents Fortune Teller
Review the continents of the world with this hands-on continents fortune teller.
- Free Plan
Acclimatised Civilisations: Inuit Territories – Workbook
Learn about the physical and human geography of the Inuit Territories with this inquiry-based mapping activity.
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Acclimatised Civilisations: India – Workbook
Learn about the physical and human geography of the continent of India with this inquiry-based mapping activity.
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Continents and Oceans Task Cards
Practise identifying and describing the 7 continents and 5 oceans with a set of task cards.
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Latitude and Longitude Banners
Latitude and longitude banners to display in the classroom when studying geography.
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Torres Route 1606 Map
A map to display in the classroom when learning about Luis de Torres' route across the top of Australia in 1606.
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Changing Map of Australia - 65 000 Years Ago to Present Day
A map showing the changes in Australia's coastline from 65 000 years ago to the present day.
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Map of New Zealand
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of New Zealand.
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Map of Antarctica
Familiarise your students with the continent of Antarctica using a labelled map.
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The Murray-Darling Region Of Australia Poster
A poster to show the Murray-Darling Region of Australia.
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Map of The Solomon Islands
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of The Solomon Islands.
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Map of Singapore
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of Singapore.
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Map of New Caledonia
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map ofNew Calendonia.
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Map of Timor-Leste
Familiarise your students with Australia’s neighbouring countries with this detailed map of Timor-Leste.
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Australian States and Territories
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate how Australia can be represented on a map as states and territories.
- Plus Plan
Egypt
A 60-minute lesson in which students learn how people lived in and adapted to the desert environment in Egypt.