Using Compass and Cardinal Directions – North, South, East and West

Using Compass and Cardinal Directions – North, South, East and West Children need to learn basic survival skills, and one way is to begin teaching them how to read a map and use a compass.

Children need to learn basic survival skills, and one way is to begin teaching them how to read a map and use a compass.

We have become so spoiled by GPS systems on our phones and in our cars, that many children no longer understand how to look at a map for directions. For their own safety, this is a basic life skill. Using geography and learning about various types of maps can lead into a fun and practical lesson on how to read a map and use a compass in real life. 

Winter session 3 in Term 2 was built for exactly that purpose. We also added a couple of funny stories, drama, art & crafts, and science experiments…

During activities in the classroom and outdoors, we have focused on:

•  how to use a map and compass for recognising cardinal directions – North, South, East and West
• how to create and construct Eskimo igloos and Indian tipis and have fun in them
• how to create from snow lots of interesting things
• how to cool a healthy herbal tea in the snow
•  how to dissolve snow and ice with salt
•  how to use colourful water for making ice crystals 
• how, from Skittles and water, we could make a beautiful colourful rainbow…

 During each lesson we had lots of fun and learning, and we are looking forward to continuing this.

 Forest School - Daniela Kollarova