OS Maps

Introduction to

Ordnance
Survey Map

Reading

What does OS mean?
The Ordnance Survey (OS) is the mapping agency for Great Britain. It creates
up-to-date paper and digital maps for individuals and businesses to use.

Using a key
OS maps show physical and human features as symbols. This makes the
maps easier to read. Each OS map has a key to show what the symbols mean.

Scale and distance
Maps show objects as being much smaller than they are in real life. The
relationship between the features on the map to the real size on the ground is
called the scale. Scale is shown as a ratio, eg 1:25,000 means that 1 cm on a
map represents 25,000 cm or 250 m in real life.

OS maps come in different scales. You need to be able to read maps at a scale
of 1:25,000 and 1:50,000

Look at the two OS maps in front of you

What other features of OS maps can you see?
Make a list of OS features in your books.

Why are OS Maps useful?

Who might use them?

Discuss

Who uses OS maps?

Map symbols

However, not all the detail will fit on the map, so we use
different images, abbreviations and letters to represent
the main items on the map.

When drawing a map to scale, it is important to
include as much detail as possible.

Activity

Draw a quick sketch map that shows your route to school but do not use any words!

Why do we use symbols?

MapZone : map skills : map symbols : page one (ordnancesurvey.co.uk)

bus station

deciduous forest

camp site

coniferous forest

picnic site

church with a spire

church with a tower

view point

marsh

train station

secondary road

main road

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Match the O.S. symbol to the correct description – draw

symbols and name

bus station

deciduous forest

camp site

coniferous forest

picnic site

church with a spire

church with a tower

view point

marsh

train station

secondary road

main road

1

2

3

4

5

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

7

8

Match the O.S. symbol to the correct description – draw

symbols and name

Hint - There are 11 different symbols to identify!

Identify all the symbols you can spot on this Ordnance

Survey map.

O.S. map symbols

main road

minor road

contour line

river

public house

buildings

chapel

church with a tower

telephone

footpath

pond

Did you spot them all?