Grid references on OS maps

How to give four figure grid references

You might have done this in Maths. What is this? X A cross

Stand up Cross your arms, move side to side and say, “X IS ACROSS”. Touch your toes then reach up and say, “Y TO THE SKY”.

Complete the sequence….. A, B, C, D, ……………. w, X, Y, z So x coordinate comes before the y coordinate.

The coordinates are (12,16).

The coordinates are (12.5,16.2).

A grid reference is a way of giving a position on a map

Grid lines called Eastings are from top to bottom Grid line numbers are at the top and bottom So this is Easting 35 Say it as ‘three five’, not as thirty five.

Grid lines from side to side are called Northings Grid line numbers are along both sides So this is Northing 24 Say it as ‘two four’, not twenty four

A What is the four figure grid reference for this square?

A Find the line along the left of the square. This is Easting 34

A This is Northing 25 Find the line along the bottom of the square.

A The four figure grid reference is 3425 Easting 34 Northing 25 Say it as ‘three four two five’

The coordinates are (12,16). The four figure grid reference is 1216 The coordinates give the point and the grid reference gives the square.

Find the square Look at the line on its left (Easting) Find its number from the top or bottom Look at the line along its bottom (Northing) Find its number from either side Write the Easting number, then the Northing number Remember

What are the four figure grid references for the squares with these symbols? All right? Some wrong? Double click icons

How to give a six figure grid reference

The church is in square 3224, but where exactly is it?

It is nearer to 33 than to 32 It is nearer to 24 than to 25 But how ‘near’ is nearer? We need to look more closely.

Look closer at one grid square

A six figure reference at Draw lines between the main grid lines Say it as ‘three two eight, two four three’

The coordinates are (12.5,16.2). The 6 figure grid reference is

Find the point in the square Find the four figure grid reference See how far the point is from the line on the left of the square to the line on the right See how far the point is from the line along the bottom of the square to the line along the top Remember

Where are these symbols? All right? Some wrong? Double click icons

This line first Then this line Remembe r

This line first Then this line 246 Church at Remember