Learning + Design

Lesson Outline

These lessons are designed to explore how similar concepts can be explored in both analogue and digital spaces. The introductory and plenary sections of these 'Space' lessons are the same, but the main lesson content varies.

Introductory video: students explore a brief history of cartography and map making, from analogue to digital forms of maps.
Activity 1: students learn how to locate places on a map using 6-figure grid references.
Activity 2: global treasure hunt. Students use 6-figure grid references on a physical (analogue) map to explore the world.
Activity 3: local treasures. Students use 6-figure grid references to locate local sites of significance.
Plenary: Think-pair-share. Students discuss the challenges and surprises of working with analogue maps.

Learning design principles

Introduction: A brief history of cartography and maps

Maps have always changed for humans throughout history, find out how humans perceived the world throughout history by watching this Youtube video from KnowledgeHusk.

Why are analogue maps important?

Although many people now rely on tools like Google Maps, analogue maps are still important. Analogue maps:

Don’t run out of batteries or need power, making them useful for emergencies and in environments where you cannot access power.
Can be clearer to read because you can fold out a full map instead of having to zoom and scroll.
Are static, so they make a good historical record.

Activity 1: Using 6-figure grid references

Begin with a 4-figure grid reference. If you aren’t sure of how to use a 4-figure reference, watch this video.

A 6-figure reference adds additional digits to the 4-figure reference.

For example, if the four figure reference is 4567, the 6-figure reference for the X would be 458675.

If the grid does not already have tenths marked on it, divide it into tenths yourself. Add the first digit after the Easterly digits, and the next after the Northerly digits.

Make a copy of these slides

Space - Analogue Maps

Activity 2: Global treasure hunt

Space - Analogue Maps

Make a copy of these slides

Thriving in a Hybrid World - Space

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To set up your global treasure hunt you will need a world map which includes maps with 6 figure references. You will be designing a treasure hunt for a partner to follow.

Find your first ‘treasure’ location. This can be anywhere you would like to use as a starting point. Write down the map page number, and the 6 figure grid reference, alongside “Location 1” in the table.
Write the name of a feature at that location: such as a place name, street name, or the name of a natural feature (rivers, streams, etc.) in the “Feature” column.
Find your next location, and repeat this process until you have ten locations.
Swap with a partner. To complete the treasure hunt, you must correctly identify all ten locations from the map.

Activity 3: Local Treasures

Provide students with a local OS map

Instructions for students:

Using the OS map of your local area, identify six of your favourite sites and record the 6-figure grid references.
Swap grid references with another student and try to find each other’s local treasures.

Plenary: Think-Pair-Share

What was challenging about reading these maps and finding locations?
What surprised you?

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