Colors should match the geographic details of a map when possible. Here are come suggestions:

• Mountains — use brown and green
• Lakes and Rivers —  blue
• Oceans — shade along coastlines (see below) with blue
• Deserts — light brown, can shade with yellow and/or orange
• Forests, or vegetation areas — green
• Divider lines between regions — a bright color, drawn with a fine line.
• Roads, routes or highways — dark colors such as Black, brown or red
• 
• TIP: Using colored pencils is the best way to add color. Areas can be filled in completely or shaded along boundaries.

On this detail of our NORTH AMERICA map, we have shown a few ways of using color in different situations.

Shading Ocean Coastlines

Shading and coloring a map is a real art. Learn some tips that will make your map easy to read and look great!

When shading an ocean coastline, there are a few ways you can choose from, based on what you like and/or what is easiest for you. The various examples are numbered on the map.

Example 1: Draw a line with light blue parallel to the coastline, then go back and shade it in.

Example 2: Draw a thin dark line in blue along the coastline itself, then shade outwards.

Example 3: Some student cartographers like to draw a shaggy brushstroke type line.

Examples 4 and 5: You can use a thin dark blue line along the coast or a thicker line that extends further out.

Example 6: Use a combination of coloring/shading methods

Outlining Islands

See examples shown on the map.

• Shade around groups of islands in blue.
• Shade around a tiny stand-alone island like Bermuda to make it stand out

Highlighting Labels

To make the labels for oceans and seas stand out, you can use background color behind or around the label.

• Here yellow has been used to highlight the names of the bodies of water.

THESE TIPS APPLY TO ALL OUR HANDS ON ACTIVITY MAPS!

View all our maps HERE.  With these tips in mind, you will be sure to engage your students.  Kids LEARN BY DOING– and REMEMBER better when hands on is a tool!