Map skills and use of a compass
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use a map and a compass to navigate to different control points.
Key learning points
- Move: running longer distances requires a slower pace.
- Move: maintaining an even and consistent stride length helps with pacing and navigation.
- Think: bearings can be taken on the compass by lining up magnetic north on the map with magnetic north on the compass.
- Feel: working on an independent new challenge requires patience and persistence.
- Connect: working together requires shared responsibility and a willingness to listen to each other in any disagreement.
Keywords
Control point - a specific location marked on a map to navigate to that is typically marked by a plaque or flag
Compass - an instrument that helps you find your bearings and stay on course by identifying magnetic north
Bearing - direction or position of something relative to a fixed point. Measured in degrees with magnetic north as zero
Common misconception
Forgetting to align north on the compass with north on the map before navigating
Hold the compass next to the arrow representing magnetic north on the map and rotate your body until the arrow on the map and the arrow on the compass line up with north, then keep the map facing that way even when you change direction.
Teacher tip
If you do not have your school site mapped, an alternative is to use year 7 lesson 7 explore your school site.
Equipment
small gym mat, control points / printed AdMat, a stopwatch per pair that needs challenging, each pair requires a school map, pencil, cone, bib, 3 whiteboards and a board pen, .
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What do we have the potential to achieve if we all work together?
Q2.Why is it so important to include and value others?
Q3.What does coordinating everyone's movements become as group sizes increase?
Q4.What must our communication be like to ensure everyone understands an instruction?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What must we line up with north on a map when using a compass to keep us orientated correctly?
Q2.What can influence a compass and impact magnetic north?
Q3.What is important about our speed of running to ensure we can keep going to multiple control points?
Q4.What must we remember to be to ensure we don’t give up when we struggle to use a map and compass together?
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Map skills and use of a compass, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 physical education lesson on: Map skills and use of a compass, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 3 physical education lessons from the Outdoor adventurous activities: physical and intellectual challenges unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.