Activity 01
Stations Rotation: OS Map Symbols
Prepare four stations with OS map excerpts: one for the key, one for grid references, one for scale, and one for contours. Small groups spend 8 minutes at each, sketching examples and noting uses. Conclude with a class share-out of findings.
Explain the primary purpose of an Ordnance Survey map.
Facilitation TipDuring the Station Rotation, circulate with a checklist to note which symbols students hesitate on, then address those gaps in the closing discussion.
What to look forProvide students with a small section of an Ordnance Survey map. Ask them to identify and write down: 1) the symbol for a specific feature (e.g., a church or a public toilet), 2) a four-figure grid reference for a named location, and 3) one thing the scale tells them.
RememberUnderstandApplyAnalyzeSelf-ManagementRelationship Skills
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 02
Pairs: Grid Reference Hunt
Provide printed OS map sections with 10 hidden grid references linked to features like churches or woods. Pairs locate and list them, then swap maps to check answers. Discuss accuracy as a group.
Compare an OS map with a simple road map, highlighting key differences.
Facilitation TipIn the Grid Reference Hunt, provide rulers to scaffold accurate measurements between grid lines for students who struggle with number lines.
What to look forHold up an Ordnance Survey map and a simple road map. Ask students to point to or name one feature that is on the OS map but not on the road map, and explain why that feature might be important for a hiker.
UnderstandAnalyzeEvaluateSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 03
Small Groups: Professional Map Use
Assign roles like hiker or paramedic to groups. Give scenario cards requiring OS map navigation, such as finding the nearest phone box. Groups plot routes and present decisions.
Analyze how OS maps are used by different professions, such as hikers and emergency services.
Facilitation TipWhen groups create professional map use scenarios, rotate among them to ask, 'What would a walker need to know that isn’t on a road map?' to keep conversations focused on purpose.
What to look forPose the question: 'Imagine you are planning a picnic in a local park. Which type of map, an Ordnance Survey map or a simple road map, would be more useful and why?' Encourage students to refer to specific map features in their answers.
UnderstandAnalyzeEvaluateSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 04
Whole Class: Map Comparison
Project an OS map and a road map of the same area side-by-side. Guide students to list similarities and differences through think-pair-share. Vote on best map for various trips.
Explain the primary purpose of an Ordnance Survey map.
Facilitation TipFor the Map Comparison, assign roles so every student compares one feature type (e.g., footpaths, contour lines) to ensure thorough examination.
What to look forProvide students with a small section of an Ordnance Survey map. Ask them to identify and write down: 1) the symbol for a specific feature (e.g., a church or a public toilet), 2) a four-figure grid reference for a named location, and 3) one thing the scale tells them.
UnderstandAnalyzeEvaluateSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Start with a quick 10-minute walk outside to photograph local landmarks, then have students sketch symbols for those features before introducing OS conventions. Avoid teaching symbols in isolation; always pair them with real-world locations students can visualize. Research shows that students learn mapping best when tasks require them to move, measure, and justify choices, so keep sessions hands-on and discussion-driven.
Students will confidently locate features using grid references, interpret standard symbols, and explain why OS maps include terrain detail. You’ll see them choose the right map for a task and justify that choice with evidence from the symbols, scale, or contours.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Station Rotation: OS Map Symbols, watch for students who assume all maps show the same level of detail.
After students compare OS and road maps at Station 3, ask them to list three features present on the OS map but missing on the road map and explain why a hiker would need that information.
During Station Rotation: OS Map Symbols, expect some students to treat OS symbols like casual drawings.
Ask students to compare their class-created symbol key to the official OS key at Station 2. Have peers check for mismatches and justify correct versions using real landmarks.
During Professional Map Use, some students may think OS maps are static documents.
During the group task, provide a recent news article about a local path closure or new housing estate. Ask groups to mark the change on a laminated OS map and add a date to their timeline to show updates.
Methods used in this brief