New
New
Year 8

Map skills and use of a compass

I can use a map and a compass to navigate to different control points.

New
New
Year 8

Map skills and use of a compass

I can use a map and a compass to navigate to different control points.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: running longer distances requires a slower pace.
  2. Move: maintaining an even and consistent stride length helps with pacing and navigation.
  3. Think: bearings can be taken on the compass by lining up magnetic north on the map with magnetic north on the compass.
  4. Feel: working on an independent new challenge requires patience and persistence.
  5. 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.


To help you plan your year 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...

If you do not have your school site mapped, an alternative is to use year 7 lesson 7 explore your school site.
Teacher tip

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

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What do we have the potential to achieve if we all work together?
Correct answer: more
less
the same
Q2.
Why is it so important to include and value others?
Correct answer: strengthens relationships
reduces productivity
we have to
Q3.
What does coordinating everyone's movements become as group sizes increase?
Correct answer: harder
easier
no difference
Q4.
What must our communication be like to ensure everyone understands an instruction?
Correct answer: clear
ambiguous
technical

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What must we line up with north on a map when using a compass to keep us orientated correctly?
south
Correct answer: magnetic north
the bearings
Q2.
What can influence a compass and impact magnetic north?
the North Pole
Correct answer: earth’s magnetic field
true north
Q3.
What is important about our speed of running to ensure we can keep going to multiple control points?
Correct Answer: pace ourselves, pace, pacing
Q4.
What must we remember to be to ensure we don’t give up when we struggle to use a map and compass together?
Correct answer: patient and persistent
competitive
a perfectionist

Additional material

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