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Year 7

Four and Six Figure Grid References

I can use four and six-figure grid references to locate features on an OS map accurately.

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New
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Year 7

Four and Six Figure Grid References

I can use four and six-figure grid references to locate features on an OS map accurately.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Maps have grid lines that help us locate places on a map.
  2. Horizontal lines are called northings and vertical lines are called eastings.
  3. Each grid square has two sets of numbers, giving a four-figure grid reference.
  4. To increase location accuracy, features can be located using six-figure grid references.

Keywords

  • Northings - numbered horizontal lines found on maps

  • Eastings - numbered vertical lines found on maps

  • Grid reference - a number which combines northings and eastings to help you to locate a feature on an Ordnance Survey map

Common misconception

Northings come before eastings.

Eastings come first, then northings.


To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: Four and Six Figure Grid References, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Bring in an OS map so students can have a look at the gridlines on a physical OS map and see where they are labelled.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does OS stand for?
Correct answer: Ordnance Survey
Over Survey
Ordnance Satellite
Q2.
What do OS maps help us do?
Correct answer: locate places
Correct answer: find the distance between places
show information on who owns the land
Correct answer: show what there is to do in an area
Q3.
Where can you find what the symbols mean on a map?
the back of it
Correct answer: the key
the scale bar
the internet
Q4.
Which is the correct order?
South, West, North, East
East, South, North, West
South, North, West, East
Correct answer: North, East, South, West
Q5.
What do you use to figure out the real life distance from looking at a map?
Correct answer: scale
key
north arrow
contour lines
Q6.
Which of these is not a map?
sat nav
OS map
atlas
Correct answer: satellite image

6 Questions

Q1.
What are the faint blue lines called over the top of maps?
Correct answer: Gridlines
Contours
Scale lines
Q2.
What are the vertical lines on a map called?
Northings
Correct answer: Eastings
Westings
Q3.
What are the horizontal lines on a map called?
Correct answer: Northings
Eastings
Westings
Q4.
Which do you find first when finding a four figure grid reference?
Correct answer: Eastings
Northings
Westings
Southings
Q5.
Which is true of six figure grid references?
They are less accurate than four figure grid references.
They cannot be used on Ordnance Survey maps.
Correct answer: They are more accurate than four figure grid references.
Q6.
Which of these is a six figure grid reference?
3247
32476
Correct answer: 322476
3224765