Skip to content
Auralith
Menu
Log inGet started

Year 6 · Geography · Map skills · Lesson 2

Grid references

Four-figure grid references with eastings and northings, the bottom-left corner rule, and an introduction to six-figure references.

Whiteboard video lesson: Grid references

13-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

Watch free for a month

What your child will learn

  • Explain eastings and northings
  • Give 4-figure grid references
  • Find features from a reference
  • Explain 6-figure references

The method

  1. Square.
  2. Easting.
  3. Northing.
  4. Write E then N.

Key words: grid reference, easting, northing, Ordnance Survey, 6-figure.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

Which do you give first: eastings or northings?

  1. Step 1: Along

Answer: eastings

Question 2

Where are eastings numbered?

  1. Step 1: Bottom

Answer: along the bottom (or top)

Question 3

Where are northings numbered?

  1. Step 1: Side

Answer: up the side