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Stateline: Orienteering: using a map and compass

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Two men stand outside with compass
Stateline: Orienteering: using a map and compass

SUBJECTS:  Maths

YEARS:  5–6


Orienteering requires knowledge of directions, an ability to read a map and the use of a magnetic compass.

Find out about the basics of orienteering.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What do you know about orienteering? It usually takes place in a bush setting where you need to find a number of checkpoints. Can you think of some things that would help you to locate these checkpoints?
  2. 2.Grant hands out several pieces of equipment that are required for orienteering. What are they? Grant mentions that the compass shows north. Why might that be helpful? What makes finding checkpoints difficult?
  3. 3.It's easier to give directions when you know where north is. Try this. At midday (non-daylight saving time) face the sun. This is north. Hide an object in your yard for someone to find. Draw a map of your yard. Mark north on it. Give directions to the object, using numbers of steps and directions north, south, east or west. The finder can mark their course on your map.
  4. 4.How is using a compass for navigation (finding your way) different from following normal directions to a particular place? Find out how you would use an orienteering compass for navigation in an area you don't know. How is the compass used with a map of the area How would you instruct someone to use an orienteering compass with a map?



Date of broadcast: 8 Nov 2006


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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