Mapping Our World · Autumn Term

Birds Eye View and Symbols

Understanding how 3D landscapes are represented in 2D through plan views and standard Ordnance Survey symbols.

About This Topic

This topic introduces Year 3 students to the fundamental concept of cartography: representing a complex 3D world on a flat 2D surface. Students learn to shift their perspective from a ground level view to a vertical plan view, often described as a birds eye view. By exploring standard Ordnance Survey (OS) symbols, children begin to understand that maps are coded documents where shapes and colours represent real world features like churches, post offices, or coniferous forests.

Developing these spatial skills is a core requirement of the KS2 Geography curriculum, specifically under Geographical Skills and Fieldwork. It builds the foundation for more advanced map reading in later years, such as interpreting contour lines or using digital mapping tools. Mastering symbols allows students to communicate geographical information efficiently and prepares them for navigating their local environment.

This topic particularly benefits from hands-on, student-centered approaches where children can physically manipulate objects to see how their shapes change when viewed from above.

Learning Objectives

• Identify standard Ordnance Survey symbols representing common features like buildings, roads, and water bodies.
• Compare a 2D plan view of an object or area with its 3D representation.
• Explain how a map key aids in interpreting geographical information.
• Create a simple map of a familiar environment using standard symbols and a key.

Before You Start

Observing and Describing Objects

Why: Students need to be able to observe objects and describe their shapes and features before they can understand how these are represented from above.

Basic Shapes and Spatial Awareness

Why: Understanding simple geometric shapes and their relative positions is foundational for interpreting plan views and symbols.

Key Vocabulary

Plan view	A view of an object or area from directly above, looking straight down. It shows the shape and position of features as seen from a birds eye perspective.
Birds eye view	A perspective from a high vantage point, looking down on an area. It is similar to a plan view but can include some sense of depth or height.
Symbol	A simple picture or shape used on a map to represent a real-world feature, such as a church, a tree, or a road.
Map key	A list or chart that explains what the symbols on a map represent. It is essential for understanding the information presented on the map.
Ordnance Survey (OS) symbols	Standardized symbols used by the Ordnance Survey, the national mapping agency of Great Britain, to represent features on their maps.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: The View from Above

Set up stations with everyday objects like a mug, a shoe, and a toy car. Students must draw each object from a side view and then from a direct birds eye view to see how the 2D shape changes. At the final station, they match their drawings to a set of mystery plan view photos.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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Inquiry Circle: Symbol Detectives

Provide groups with a large OS map and a set of 'mystery feature' cards. Students must search the map to find the symbols matching their cards and use the map key to identify what they represent. They then create a giant classroom key by drawing the symbols on post-it notes.

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

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Think-Pair-Share: Designing a New School Symbol

Students think of a school feature that doesn't have a standard OS symbol, such as the 'friendship bench' or the 'forest school area'. They design a simple, clear symbol in pairs and explain to the class why their design is easy for a traveler to understand.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

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Real-World Connections

Cartographers at Ordnance Survey use these symbols to create detailed maps of the UK, which are used by hikers, emergency services, and urban planners.

Travelers use maps with keys to navigate unfamiliar cities, locate landmarks like train stations or post offices, and plan routes for journeys.

Video game designers create maps for virtual worlds using symbols to represent different terrains, buildings, and objectives, helping players understand the game environment.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Maps should look like photographs from the sky.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that maps are simplified models, not photos. Use a peer discussion to compare a satellite image with a map of the same area, highlighting how symbols make important information like road names or building types clearer than a photo can.

Common Misconception

Symbols must be the same size as the real object.

What to Teach Instead

Students often think a church symbol represents the exact footprint of the building. Use a hands-on modeling activity with blocks to show that symbols are markers for location, not exact scale drawings of the building's size.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Show students a simple map of the classroom or school playground with a few OS symbols. Ask them to point to the symbol for the 'door' and then write down what the symbol for 'tree' represents on their mini whiteboards.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a card with a picture of a common object (e.g., a house, a post box, a park bench). Ask them to draw the birds eye view of the object and then select the correct OS symbol from a provided list to represent it on a map.

Discussion Prompt

Present two different map keys for the same area, one clear and one confusing. Ask students: 'Which map key is more effective for a traveler and why? What makes a good map key?'

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we use Ordnance Survey symbols specifically?

OS symbols are the standard for mapping in the UK. By learning these specific icons, students gain a life skill that allows them to read any professional map of the British Isles. It ensures consistency so that a hiker in the Scottish Highlands and a cyclist in Cornwall can both understand the same map language.

How can active learning help students understand map symbols?

Active learning helps by moving students from passive observation to active creation. When students physically move around objects to see them from different angles or participate in a 'symbol hunt' on a real map, they internalise the relationship between 3D space and 2D representation. This hands-on engagement makes the abstract concept of a 'plan view' much more concrete and memorable.

What is the difference between a map and a plan?

A plan is usually a large-scale map of a small area, like a classroom or a garden, showing a lot of detail. A map usually covers a larger area, like a town or country, and uses more symbols to represent features. In Year 3, we start with plans of the classroom to build confidence before moving to wider maps.

Are map symbols the same in every country?

Not exactly. While many symbols are similar (like blue for water), different countries have their own mapping agencies with unique styles. However, the concept of a key or legend is universal. Teaching students how to use a key is more important than memorising every single symbol.