Space Awareness
The Sun Compass of the Vikings
Evidence shows the Vikings likely navigated by using a simple sundial to find their course. Videos, a short story, and discussion help bring this time period to life as they study European history with a hands-on experiment. Scholars...
California Academy of Science
Which Way is North?
Who needs a compass to find cardinal directions? Just place a stick in the ground and record the movement of its shadow over the course of a day. Then, measure the shadow lengths in order to determine a north-south line. A simple...
Curated OER
CLASSROOM MAPS
Students do a blind tour of their school by responding to verbal commands. They look and discuss various maps in the classroom. They locate the direction of the sunrise and discuss the compass directions of North, South, East, and West.
Curated OER
Direction of River Flow
Students determine the direction the river flows. They use a US map with rivers listed, colored pencils and a compass or transparency with directions marked. Students use a color key to determine which direction the river is flowing...
Curated OER
Using a Compass Rose
Second graders explore geography by completing a mapping activity in class. In this directional lesson, 2nd graders examine a map in class and utilize a compass rose to identify their location and destination. Students write directions...
Scholastic
Reading Symbols
Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass serves as the anchor text for a lesson on symbolism. Readers use the provided worksheets to examine the symbols in the novel as well as in the world around them.
Novelinks
Tuesdays with Morrie: K-W-H-L Strategy
Readers of Tuesdays with Morrie are directed to use a K-W-H-L chart to record what they know, what they want to learn, how they will find information, and what they learned about a particular topic related to Mitch Albom's book.
Curated OER
Orienteering 2
Students are shown the basics of map and compass work. They name the parts of a compass and comprehend the function of each part. Students define paces and tallies and use them in a real world situation. They use a map and compass to...
Curated OER
Naviagational Tools
Fifth graders create a compass, with the help of written instructions and then write six sentences discussing how compasses work and why they are helpful. They discuss the different types of navigational tools and how they are helpful.
Curated OER
Weather Report Chart
Students complete a weather report chart after studying weather patterns for a period of time. In this weather report instructional activity, students measure temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, wind speed, and wind direction for a...
Curated OER
In Mr. Lincoln's Shoes
Students demonstrate basic map skills. In this US history lesson, students review cardinal directions and use a compass rose while at the same time discuss what life was like for Abraham Lincoln.
Scholastic
Reading Characters
Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass provides the text for a study of how writers bring characters to life. Using the provided character mapping worksheets, readers respond to questions and then write a short character sketch.
Curated OER
Cartography Project
A lesson involving mapping, the use of a compass, writing and following directions, and exploring the first two themes of geography is here for you. Learners create original maps that show the routes they take through their own...
Curated OER
Orienteering II
Students name the parts of a compass and comprehend the function of each part. They define paces and tallies and use them in a real world situation. Students are shown the proper use of radio terminology. They use a map and compass to...
Curated OER
Orienteering I
Students are introduced to compass work. They name the parts of a compass. Students describe how the parts of a compass are used. They are shown the proper way to hold a compass. Students are shown that-a-way arrow and its purpose.
PBS
Arthur's World Neighborhood: Building Global and Cultural Awareness
Kids become global anthropologists as they explore commonalities and differences both in their classroom and expanding across the globe. Throughout several activities, learners conduct partner interviews that culminate in Venn diagrams,...
Curated OER
Native American Homelands
Students discuss the Navajo, Sioux, and Iroquois tribes, noting their distinctive characteristics. They trace the homeland of each of the tribes on maps and create map keys. Students explain how they developed their map keys.
Curated OER
Where is Here?
Learners are shown the very basics of navigation. The concepts of relative and absolute location, latitude, longitude and cardinal directions are discussed, as well as the use and principles of a map and compass.
Curated OER
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Map for Me: An Original Story
Students read Blackbeard and brainstorm their knowledge of maps. In this language arts and geography lesson, students use landmarks on their playground to review north, south, east and west and discuss the compass rose. Students read...
Curated OER
Follow the Light
Young scholars investigate the role of lighthouses in navigation and practice the use of cardinal directions through reading activities, discussion, locating geographical features, and mapping lighthouses along the east coast of the...
Curated OER
Those Who Have Come Before Me
Class members are transformed into explorers as they work in groups to locate hidden items and map their journey along the way. They then leave clues for other groups of learners to follow, and ultimately discover how past explorations...
Curated OER
Tomb Guardians
Students practice using compasses to find cardinal directions in this cross-curricular instructional activity about the Chinese art of tomb sculptures. The instructional activity also includes a creative instructional activity extension.
Curated OER
Geography: Islands and Alcatraz
Students, in groups, create maps of islands including map keys and compass roses. They compare and contrast their island communities with that of the island prison, Alcatraz. Students select from a series of projects, including writing...