Instructor:   Hilary Lampard
                        Nicholson 100G
                        Central Washington University, Ellensburg
                        963-1210 or 963-1911
                        e-mail: lampardh@cwu.edu

Class Overview and Introduction:

The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to the sport of orienteering. The unit will integrate physical education, social studies, and math concepts. The students will be introduced to map reading and compass reading skills and learn how to apply them in practical learning activities.  (Ideally this course will be taught as a cooperative endeavor with classroom teachers.  However, the lesson plans are written as if the unit is all being taught in the Physical Education class.)

Orienteering is an outdoor sport in which the participants use a very detailed topographical map and a compass to find points in the landscape. It can be enjoyed as a walk in the woods or as a competitive sport. Orienteering competitions are also conducted in local parks, on city streets with bicycles and wheelchairs, and on the snow with cross-country skis.  A standard orienteering course consists of a series of control sites that are marked by circles on a map and numbered in the order they are to be visited. On the ground, a control flag marks the location that the orienteer must visit. The route between "controls" (refers to the flag or the site) is not specified, and is entirely up to the orienteer. This element of route choice and the ability to navigate through unknown territory are the essence of orienteering. Most orienteering events use staggered starts to ensure that each orienteer has a chance to do his or her own navigating, but there are several other popular formats, including relays and events in which the orienteer must find as many controls as possible within a specified time.

For a more complete description of orienteering, click here.

Rationale:

Orienteering combines physical and mental skills that will serve the students well throughout their lives. Map and compass skills give a person independence and provide a foundation for safe participation in many outdoor activities. Orienteering events take place in many parts of the country and are open for all skill levels. It is a true lifetime sport for people of all fitness levels. Although the objective of an orienteering event is to finish the course as quickly as possible, the fastest runners do not necessarily have an advantage since route finding is a critical component of the sport. Participation is the factor that will be stressed in this unit. Orienteering gets people into natural settings and challenges them both mentally and physically.

Student Learning Objectives:

This unit is designed to meet some of the essential academic learning requirements in health and fitness and communication. Specifically, as a result of completing this unit, the student will:

                1.  Develop fundamental physical skills and progress to complex movement activities as physically able.
                2.  Incorporate rules and safety procedures into physical activity.
                3.  Acquire skills to move safely.
                4.  Understand how environmental factors affect one's health.
                5.  Use listening and observation skills to gain understanding.
                6.  Use communication strategies to work effectively with others.

Assessment:
The grade for this unit will be determined by:
Daily worksheets and activities (25%)
Active and cooperative participation (50%)
Summative assessment (25%)
    The summative assessment for this unit will be based on the student's ability to successfully negotiate a designated orienteering course. Points will be assigned in map reading, compass use and completion of the orienteering course.

Grading:
    90-100% = A
    80 - 89% = B
    70 - 79% = C
    60 - 69% = D
    less than 59% = F
(+ and - grades will be assigned to the top and bottom three points within each range. E.g., 87% = B+)
 

Tentative schedule: (TBA)