In order to be a good geographer you will learn and practise many skills. This chapter will teach you some of the skills that you will need in your first year of Geography. Your class can dip in and out of this chapter throughout the year.
The skills you will need in First Year are broken into two groups: 1. Ordnance Survey map skills 2. Graph skills. We will also look at units of measurement at the end of the chapter.
Ordnance Survey map skills 1 Learning Intentions
In this section, you will learn: zz the scale and national grid used for OS maps zz how to locate places on an OS map using grid references
zz how to read the legend of an OS map zz the way height is identified on an OS map zz how to give directions on an OS map zz how to draw a sketch map from an OS map.
Cartographer Scale Ratio
National grid Subzone Easting
Northing Grid reference
Legend Contour
Triangulation pillar
Spot height Summit
Cardinal points Compass
Maps are representations of the world that have been created by people called cartographers. Maps help people to navigate (find their way around) the world.
There are many different types of map. Look at pages 12, 61, 128, 233 and 258 of this book to see some of the different types. You will also find maps of Ireland, Europe and the world on pages 410–417.
ACT VITY
Many people use Google Maps to help them find and explore places. Go to Google Maps (www.google.ie/maps) and find some of the following places, which you will learn more about in your First-Year Geography course:
• Iceland • Mount St Helens
• Haiti • Dubai
ACT VITY
Can you identify where in the world you are by looking at your surroundings on Google Street View? Go to https://geoguessr.com/ to have a go!
ACT VITY
Draw a map of your school and its grounds (yard, pitches, car park, etc.). Use an A4 page and remember to label and colour your map.
3
• The Burren • Nevado del Ruiz
Geographical Skills for First Years: Ordnance Survey and graph skills
