What to do
Discuss with your group what they already know about using maps:
- What different types of maps are there (e.g. tube map, street map, treasure map)?
- What do they show?
- What don’t they show?
Ask for key words about maps, e.g.:
- Contour
- Key
- Scale
- Grid
write down their answers on big paper
Do we know what all of these mean? Record any answers
Line sort (e.g. by birthday) to make 3 groups
Carousel with 3 activities:
Map Symbols
Discuss how things get shown on a map (not an exact picture but using symbols)
On paper, draw what symbol would you use to represent:
- School
- Pub
- Campsite
- Monster-infested swamp
Try the map symbols quiz (e.g. in pairs)
Look at OS map and try and find examples of as many of these symbols as you can
If time allows, draw a map of a real or imaginary place using some of these symbols.
Contours
Look at maps and try and identify contour lines – which show a 3-dimensional landscape on a flat piece of paper.
Ask them to find a hill on their map and (roughly) copy shape of contour lines onto corrugated cardboard – then cut out and assemble to build a model of the hill, stick together with PVA.
Alternatively copy/trace from the handout.
Which would be the best way to walk up your hill?
Grid References
Talk through 4- and 6- figure grid references, using the map to demonstrate.
Remember eastings come before northings – “along the corridor and up the stairs”.
In pairs, ask them to find 6 fig ref for selection of landmarks (using legend to find symbol), e.g. find a pub, a station, a nature reserve and a viewpoint.
Check answers are correct – then swap grid refs with another group to find what is at each point.
Using OL21, identify the codeword from the initial letters of the places indicated by the 6-figure references on the handout.
Extension – Compasses
Learn the 1-2-3 method to use a compass to determine which direction to walk in:
- Place compass on the map with either of the long edges lined up with the way you want to go.
- Rotate the compass housing (without moving the compass) until the lines inside the ring line up with the lines running north to south on the map (meridians).
Holding the compass flat on the map, turn yourself round until the red part of the needle is inside the arrow inside the compass housing. The direction-of-travel arrow at the top of the compass is now pointing the way you need to walk – you can read the