Ordnance Survey and Grid References

Active movement and collaboration turn abstract grid lines into something students can feel and see. When Year 7 students physically walk eastings and northings on a classroom floor grid, the order of coordinates stops being a rule to memorise and starts making sense as a spatial habit.

• Year 7
• Geography
• 3 activities
• 20 min–40 min

Learning Objectives

1. Calculate four and six figure grid references to locate specific features on an Ordnance Survey map.
2. Analyze how conventional map symbols represent physical and human features on a 2D surface.
3. Compare the precision offered by four-figure versus six-figure grid references for geographical navigation.
4. Explain the purpose and function of the National Grid system in the United Kingdom.
5. Identify standard Ordnance Survey map symbols and classify the features they represent.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Great OS Treasure Hunt

In small groups, students receive a local OS map and a list of six figure grid references. Each reference leads to a specific symbol (e.g., a windmill, a post office, or a viewpoint) that they must identify to solve a riddle. Groups must cross check each other's work to ensure the coordinates are exact.

Prepare & details

Analyze how a 3D world is represented on a 2D map.

Facilitation Tip: During The Great OS Treasure Hunt, place a laminated OS map at each station so students rotate with a clear role and a time limit to decode the next clue.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Peer Teaching

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Peer Teaching: Symbol Pictionary

Pairs are given a set of OS symbol flashcards. One student describes the real world feature without using its name, while the other must draw the correct OS symbol and provide a four figure grid reference where it might be found on a map. They then swap roles to build fluency with the map legend.

Prepare & details

Justify the necessity of precision in geographical navigation.

Facilitation Tip: In Symbol Pictionary, give each pair a blank card and a 30-second draw timer to force quick decoding before sharing their symbol with the class.

Setup: Presentation area at front, or multiple teaching stations

Materials: Topic assignment cards, Lesson planning template, Peer feedback form, Visual aid supplies

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Simulation Game

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

Simulation Game: Search and Rescue

The classroom floor is marked as a giant grid. One student acts as a 'lost hiker' at a specific six figure coordinate, and the 'rescue team' must use grid commands to navigate to them. This physical movement helps solidify the 'along the corridor and up the stairs' rule.

Prepare & details

Explain how map symbols convey information about a place.

Facilitation Tip: During Search and Rescue, ask the controller to call out grid references only after teams report a grid square, so they practise the zoom-in step from four to six figures.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Teaching This Topic

Start with a physical model: tape a 5 × 5 grid on the floor and have students walk eastings first, then northings. Keep the language consistent—‘along the corridor, up the stairs’—and avoid switching to ‘x and y’ which can confuse beginners. Research shows that kinaesthetic tasks paired with immediate feedback halve the time students need to internalise the sequence.

What to Expect

By the end of the activities, students should read a four-figure grid reference as effortlessly as reading a postcode and explain why a six-figure reference pins down a location to within 100 metres. Success looks like students using the correct mnemonic and refining their precision as they move between scales.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During The Great OS Treasure Hunt, watch for students swapping the order of eastings and northings when they read the map.

What to Teach Instead

At the first station, have each team recite the mnemonic aloud while pointing to the floor grid: first step east, second step north. Any group that misorders must take two steps back before continuing.

Common Misconception

During Symbol Pictionary, students may believe that any symbol can represent a feature as long as the class guesses correctly.

What to Teach Instead

After each drawing round, show the official OS map key for that feature and ask students to compare their symbol to the standard. Discuss why standardisation matters for quick recognition by hikers and emergency services.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After The Great OS Treasure Hunt, hand each student a blank OS map extract and ask them to mark the four-figure grid reference of the church and the six-figure reference of the school building. Collect these to check accuracy before the next lesson.

Discussion Prompt

During Symbol Pictionary, after two pairs have presented, pause and ask: ‘Why might OS use different symbols for motorway service stations versus small lay-bys?’ Listen for answers that mention clarity for drivers and search-and-rescue teams.

Exit Ticket

At the end of Search and Rescue, give each student an exit ticket with two questions: 1) One reason precise grid references matter for emergency teams. 2) Define either ‘eastings’ or ‘northings’ in your own words. Collect as they leave to spot misconceptions quickly.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Provide an OS map extract with no grid lines. Ask students to reconstruct the four-figure grid and then overlay a six-figure grid on tracing paper.
• Scaffolding: Give students a partially completed grid-reference template with the first two digits of each coordinate filled in.
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to compare two OS map extracts of the same village at 1:25 000 and 1:50 000 scales; note how symbol density changes with scale and why.

Key Vocabulary

Grid Reference	A system of numbers used to locate a specific point or area on a map, based on a grid overlay.
Eastings	Vertical lines on a map that run from south to north, used as part of a grid reference to measure distance eastwards from a starting point.
Northings	Horizontal lines on a map that run from west to east, used as part of a grid reference to measure distance northwards from a starting point.
Map Symbol	A small drawing or icon used on a map to represent a particular feature, such as a building, road, or river.
National Grid	A system of squares covering Great Britain, used by Ordnance Survey to provide a standardized method for locating any point on a map.