Topic: Compasses

Concept: Parts of a compass; Direction and bearings

Skill: Determine a bearing from a location to specific landmarks.

Objective: Students will be able to identify the various components of a compass and know how to determine a bearing to a landmark.

Lesson Activity: (materials needed: compasses least one for every pair of students.)

 The whole group lesson will include a short history of the compass, a review of directions and degrees covered in the introductory lesson,  and identification of the main parts of the compass.  Then we will go outside for the rest of the lesson.  First we will again do the activity in which everyone practices facing the various compass directions that I call out.  Discussion about local landmarks which may help us to determine direction.  I will teach the sequence of skills used to determine a bearing with the students following along.  To end the class period we will practice calculating bearings to specific objects or landmarks.    They will complete a worksheet by writing down the degrees of the bearing to each object.

Diagnostic Assessment: Through discussion, determine the level of knowledge relating to a compass and directional references.

Formative Assessment: Are students able to determine general direction in relation to a fixed point?  Are students using the correct technique to determine bearings?

Summative Assessment: Students will turn in their worksheets from the bearing exercise.  How accurate were their calculations?

Grading:  The worksheet on bearings will be worth 25 points.  A participation grade will also be recorded in the garbed.

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