Subject: When a compass is not working.

Author: Zyta Sendecka

Target group

4th grade student of elementary school.

Core curriculum

4th grade

II. Orientation outside. Student:

1) describes the course of the line of visible horizon, names the cardinal directions;

2) determines the cardinal directions using a compass and the northern direction using a gnomon, and indicates them in the field;

9) explains the relationship between the height of the Sun and the length and direction of the shadow.

Lesson objective

Students determine cardinal directions without a compass.

The criteria for success

• you will determine the cardinal directions with the help of a shadow;

• you will indicate the south direction with the pointer watch;

• you will determine the northern direction using the Polar Star;

• you will determine the cardinal directions by observing the surrounding nature.

Key competences

• communication in the mother tongue;

• communication in foreign languages;

• mathematical competence and basis competences in science and technology; 

• digital competence;

• learning to learn;

• social and civic competences.

Methods/forms of work

Working with the text, workshop method, outdoor game (modified Geocaching).

Individual activity and activity in pairs.

Teaching aids

• abstract;

• tablets;

• pointer watches;

• maps of the immediate vicinity of the school;

• treasure/forfeit boxes.

Before classes

The teacher prepares boxes with small forfeits/gifts for an outdoor game „Treasure hunting with the help of terrain points”. The number of boxes depends on the terrain and the assessment of safety conditions. The lesson is conducted outdoors, in the immediate vicinity of the school. The game must start at 11 a.m.

Lesson plan overview

Introduction

1. The teacher asks the students if they know cardinal directions and what devices can be used to determine them.

2. The teacher specifies the subject, the lesson objectives in a language the student understands, and the criteria for success.

Realization

1. The students read passages from the abstract relating to the methods of determining the cardinal directions with the use of a shadow, pointer watch and observation of surrounding nature. They analyse each method together with the teacher.

2. The teacher informs the students that they will take part in an outdoor game. The students recall safety rules during classes taking place outside the school building.

3. The teacher randomly divides the students into pairs and explains the game rules. Each pair receives a tablet, pointer watch and a map with marked places with hidden boxes.

4. The students, following the instructions from the abstract on the methods of determining cardinal directions, are looking for hidden boxes marked on the map. The pair that finds the most boxes with gifts within the time set by the teacher wins.

5. The teacher asks the students to look at the interactive illustration showing the methods of determining cardinal directions with the help of the Polar Star.

6. The teacher asks the students to do Exercise 2.

Summary

1. Students do interactive exercise no. 1.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

When a compass is not working

In Poland, at noon, the Sun is on the southern side of the sky. During this time, the shadow cast by our silhouette or other objects is shortest and indicates the northern direction. When standing facing the shadow, it is easy to point the other directions. This method is effective only at a certain time – at noon.

The Polar Star in the Ursa Minor constellation will help us to determine cardinal directions at night. This constellation is also known in North America as a “Little Dipper”, and the North Pole can be found at the end of its “handle”. Its position in the sky remains virtually unchanged – it is located right in the north, on the extension of the Earth's axis. A characteristic and distinct Ursa Major constellation will help us to find it in the sky.

The southern direction can be determined with a pointer watch with a relatively high degree of accuracy. How to do this? First, set yourself so that a small pointer (hour one) points to the Sun. You do not even have to take off your watch - just hold your hand so the dial is placed horizontally. The line dividing the angle between the small pointer and 12:00 on the watch dial will indicate the south direction. Till noon, we take into account the angle between the small pointer and the left side of 12 o’clock, whilst after noon, the angle between the small pointer and the right side of 12 o’clock.

We can also try to determine geographical directions by observing the nature around us. It is, however, less accurate method. You should remember that in this way you will determine the cardinal directions only approximately.

• Cardinal directions can be determined during the day with the help of a shadow or a pointer watch.

• At night, the northern direction can be determined by searching for the Polar Star.

• Cardinal directions can be determined with low accuracy by observing nature.