Spread the map out on a drafting table or flat surface. Make sure the bottom of the map is showing, as this is the most common location to find the map legend.
Read through the map legend to find the map scale. For example, many USGS maps use 1:24000, 1:64000 and 1:500000. These scales represent an increment on the map to the real world measurement. Some maps are inches to miles as an example.
Find icons and symbols on the map, then go to the legend and find the corresponding symbol or icon. Read next to the icon in the legend to find out what the icon represents on the map.
Turn the globe slowly, looking for a small box with a code, scale and legend on the globe itself. However, not all globes have a legend on the globe itself -- some have the legend on the stand or in a small manual to accompany the globe.
Find the scale of the globe. Not all globes are small versions of the Earth. There are globes for the planets, constellation globes and globes for ocean currents. Find your globe's purpose and design through the manual or stand by looking for an etched plate or code box.
Read the legend and look for the corresponding icons and symbols on the globe itself. Use the information from the globe's legend to decode them.