Obtain a large piece of paper---the bigger the better. While a larger map may be more time consuming to create, it will be more accurate. George Mason University's History Matters website indicates that scale can "distort features on a map. When extensive areas are shown (a small scale map) the potential for distortion is great." A larger map will accommodate a larger scale rather than cramming detailed items into a small space with a smaller scale.
Determine an easily represented verbal scale. A verbal scale is the distance on the map that is equal to the distance on the ground. According to Mark McNaught, associate professor of geology at Mount Union College, a verbal scale is "the simplest form of map scale," written in a "1 inch = X" format. Use the largest scale that your paper will accommodate: for example, a "1 inch = 3 feet" scale is larger than a "1 inch = 5 feet" scale because the mapped items do not have to be shrunk as much to fit the 1 inch = 3 feet scale.
Create an easy-to-follow map key. Cover all possible bases in your key. Don't expect someone reading your map to know that the blue-shaded area represents water or that a green dot stands for a tree; you must indicate such important details in your key. The colors and graphical representations you use are entirely up to you, but everything must be recorded in a key for easier map readability.
Lightly draw a grid on your paper with a pencil and ruler. A grid will provide more accurate mapping. If you know that each inch represents a certain distance, creating a grid in inches lets you better visualize the scale and map accordingly. If you don't want a permanent grid, you can erase it when you're done.
Convert your real-world measurements to the appropriate scale, and draw the objects on your paper. Conversion with a verbal scale is relatively simple using some basic math. Let's say you're using a "1 inch = X feet" scale. If you measure something and determine it to be "Y" feet long, you can figure out its scaled length in inches by dividing "Y" by "X." For a "1 inch = 3 feet" scale, you'd determine the scaled length of a 4.5-foot object by dividing 4.5 by 3---the resulting number tells you that the object should be 1.5 inches long on your scaled map.
