Free education resources for teachers

Our framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is designed for pupils from birth to five years of age:

• Maps and mapping in the early years (PDF)
• Maps and mapping in the early years (greyscale, PDF)

Download the national curriculum for teaching OS maps to 5-11-year-olds:

• Teaching map skills (PDF)
• Teaching map skills (greyscale, PDF)

If you’re teaching beginners at primary school, Mapzone is a fun interactive site you can use, with map quizzes and tests.

Our guides also lay out everything your students need to know about OS maps. These include top tips, such as how to use a compass, getting to know map symbols and understanding the national grid:

• Map reading made easy (PDF)
• Map reading for beginner to advanced (PDF)
• Using the national grid (PDF)

Download our guide to designing a geography curriculum for 11-16 year olds:

• Designing a coherent geography curriculum (PDF)
• Designing a coherent geography curriculum (greyscale, PDF)

Help your students develop their map reading skills:

• 1:25 000 scale OS Explorer legend (PDF) also available in Welsh (PDF).
• 1:50 000 scale OS Landranger legend (PDF) also available in Welsh (PDF).
• 1:250 000 scale legend (PDF)
• Map abbreviations (PDF).

Help your students learn more by testing what they already know:

• Download our map symbol flashcards (PDF)
• Use our outline maps for testing knowledge and colouring in:
  • Outline map of Great Britain (PDF)
  • Outline map of the United Kingdom (PDF)
  • Outline map Europe (PDF)

Maps are a vital tool at election time. We have created resources to help schools make the most of our election maps. Browse our online tools for searching electoral boundaries in Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

• Great Britain and Northern Ireland election maps

Try out our ready-made activities (PDF) for your class.

Computer screens can only show a small section of mapping at a time. For a greater geographical context and understanding you can’t beat a paper map:

• A map centred on your school is perfect for classroom wall displays.
• Is your map of the world up to date? We have both Eckert IV and Miller projections, plus Europe and British Isles wall maps.
• Browse our range of paper maps.

See current geography and exam specifications in England, Wales and Scotland:

England

• National curriculum for Geography in England
• GCSE Geography in England
• AS/A Level Geography in England

Wales

• National curriculum for Geography in Wales
• Qualifications in Wales

Scotland

• Scottish Curriculum for Excellence
• Scottish Qualification Authority
• Guide to Scottish qualifications