Lesson Four:Ordnance Survey Maps(Year four)

Types of maps

View a range of different types of map on your table (Ordnance Survey maps, tube maps, bus maps, road atlas etc.)

Which would be most useful to find a house, school, or local landmark? Why?

Which maps show human features, which show physical features, and which show both?

Ordnance Survey Map

Ordnance Survey Map Extract, Ordnance Survey © Flickr

What human and physical features can you spot on this map?

What is an OS map?

Ordnance Survey is Britain’s mapping agency. OS maps show human and physical features of the

environment:- Contour lines to show land height, hills, valleys.- Rivers, grassland, forest, marsh, lakes, etc.- Man-made features such as canals, bridges,

footpaths, buildings and roads. OS maps are particularly useful for anyone wishing to

navigate on foot, such as long-distance walkers.

Each square on an OS map has a unique four-figure grid reference.

The grid reference is the easting and northing values of a square combined into one number.

Four-figure grid references

Northings and Eastings

Northing

Map Skills Subject Knowledge Animation © RGS-IBG

Reading four-figure grid references

1657 58

5815How do we get these numbers?

15

1659

15

14595857

14

5714

Look at the bottom left-hand corner of the grid square.

The number on the vertical line is the Easting.

The number on the horizontal line is the Northing.

Put these numbers together to give your four-figure grid reference for that square.

Finding the grid reference on a map

Reading four-figure grid references

16

57 58

5815

How do we get these numbers?

15

1659

15

14595857

14

5714

Easting Northing

Digimap for Schools

Grid references

Watch the RGS-IBG subject knowledge animation

Begin at 5:10.

Map Skills Subject Knowledge Animation © RGS-IBG

Main Activity

Play map symbols bingo. Mark the symbols off your bingo sheet

once you hear them read out.

Plenary

Why do maps use symbols rather than words?

Play map symbols snap on the BBC website