Orienteering - Part 2 (Using A Compass)

PROGRAM OUTLINE (2 hours)
Students will learn the cardinal points of the compass, use an orienteering compass to take a bearing, use an orienteering compass to find a given bearing, and follow a given bearing to find a check point.

INTRODUCTION
Using a large protractor, students will be introduced to the concept of degrees identifying directions with a compass. Staff will review the cardinal points, and teach the parts of the orienteering compass and how to take a bearing.

OUTSIDE:
Students will work with the compass to practice taking bearings. They will then complete several activities to practise taking bearings and following directions using a given set of bearings.

ACTIVITIES:

1. TAKING BEARINGS-Students practice using the compass to find magnetic north and the other cardinal directions,

GAMES-

1. Scatter and Freeze- The instructor calls out a compass bearing and the students must set their compass to that bearing and turn to face in the correct direction. When the Instructor calls, "freeze", the students should all be facing in the correct direction.

2. Pebble Game- Students find a pebble or stick and place it to mark their starting point. Students should be scattered but within hearing distance of the instructor. The instructor calls out bearings and paces to walk which should bring them back "home".

3. Giant Merry-Go-Round- This involves following bearings over a greater distance where trees, bushes, and other obstacles obstruct the direct pathway and the controls are not necessarily visible from the starting point. The course is laid out in a large circle. The students start from the centre each time and follow the bearings to find the controls and write down the letter on each control. When finished, they come back to the instructor to see if they got the correct sequence of letters.

PREVISIT PREPARATION
A knowledge of the cardinal directions, magnetic north, degrees and bearings would be useful. E.g. Magnetic North- 0 or 360 degrees, East- 90 degrees, South, 180 degrees, West, 270 degrees.

	Education for, in and about the Frontenac Arch Biosphere
	PROGRAM OUTLINE (2 hours) Students will learn the cardinal points of the compass, use an orienteering compass to take a bearing, use an orienteering compass to find a given bearing, and follow a given bearing to find a check point. INTRODUCTION Using a large protractor, students will be introduced to the concept of degrees identifying directions with a compass. Staff will review the cardinal points, and teach the parts of the orienteering compass and how to take a bearing. OUTSIDE: Students will work with the compass to practice taking bearings. They will then complete several activities to practise taking bearings and following directions using a given set of bearings. ACTIVITIES: 1. TAKING BEARINGS-Students practice using the compass to find magnetic north and the other cardinal directions, GAMES- 1. Scatter and Freeze- The instructor calls out a compass bearing and the students must set their compass to that bearing and turn to face in the correct direction. When the Instructor calls, "freeze", the students should all be facing in the correct direction. 2. Pebble Game- Students find a pebble or stick and place it to mark their starting point. Students should be scattered but within hearing distance of the instructor. The instructor calls out bearings and paces to walk which should bring them back "home". 3. Giant Merry-Go-Round- This involves following bearings over a greater distance where trees, bushes, and other obstacles obstruct the direct pathway and the controls are not necessarily visible from the starting point. The course is laid out in a large circle. The students start from the centre each time and follow the bearings to find the controls and write down the letter on each control. When finished, they come back to the instructor to see if they got the correct sequence of letters. PREVISIT PREPARATION A knowledge of the cardinal directions, magnetic north, degrees and bearings would be useful. E.g. Magnetic North- 0 or 360 degrees, East- 90 degrees, South, 180 degrees, West, 270 degrees.