HARTLEY OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER Orienteering – Map and Compass Class Original February 1975 Fifth Revision: May 27, 2009 (JKE) Revised on 4/9/2021 1 ORIENTEERING INTRODUCTION A. CONCEPT: Orienteering is the sport of traveling cross-country using a compass, a map, and your thinking skills. There are various types of orienteering courses to challenge the novice, to the experienced orienteer. Orienteering is often called the “thinking sport” because it involves map reading and decision-making in addition to a great workout. This unit is designed to take the student with little or no knowledge of a compass, and give them the basic knowledge and skills to allow them to pursue orienteering as a life-long activity. Also, students will be using their math studies (i.e. the study of angles, as well as division in computing the number of steps to take in walk a given distance) in a practical activity. Orienteering is a sport for everyone, regardless of age or experience. The competitive athlete can experience the exhilaration of running through the woods at top speed, while the non- competitive orienteer can enjoy the forest at a more leisurely pace. Most events provide courses for all levels–from beginner to advanced–and the sport has been adapted for small children and people in wheelchairs. If you love maps, exploring and the great outdoors, you really need to try orienteering. You'll be hooked for life! Besides the enjoyment factor, orienteering skills may play an important factor in a survival situation; and the experiences may even lead to an interest in engineering or navigational studies for a future career or hobby. Modern Technology has changed the way we look at finding out where we are, and how to get travel to our destination. The GPS, Global Positioning System, is now becoming widely used by sportsman, nature photographers, and others whom enjoy the out-of-doors. The GPS receiver, a hand held unit, is able to give you your location, within 100 feet; as well as point the directions to known (recorded) locations. Hartley staff will introduce the GPS, and will use the system to travel to and from the Compass Course. B. SEASONAL IMPLICATIONS: A year around class. C. OBJECTIVES: The student will be able to: 1. Use a liquid filled compass properly. 2. Complete a compass course utilizing compass and written directions. 3. Read and use a topographic map. Revised on 4/9/2021 2 Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) – SCIENCE http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Complete_Science_GLCE_12-12-07_218314_7.pdf Third Grade S.IP.03.14 Manipulate simple tools that aid observation and data collection (for example: hand lens, balance, ruler, meter stick, measuring cup, thermometer, spring scale, stop watch/timer). S.IP.03.15 Make accurate measurements with appropriate units (centimeters, meters, Celsius, grams, seconds, minutes) for the measurement tool. S.IA.03.14 Develop research strategies and skills for information gathering and problem solving. S.RS.03.16 Identify technology used in everyday life. S.RS.03.17 Identify current problems that may be solved through the use of technology. Fifth Grade S.IP.05.13 Use tools and equipment (spring scales, stop watches, meter sticks and tapes, models, hand lens) appropriate to scientific investigations. S.RS.05.12 Describe limitations in personal and scientific knowledge. S.RS.05.16 Design solutions to problems using technology. P.FM.05.21 Distinguish between contact forces and non-contact forces. P.FM.05.22 Demonstrate contact and non-contact forces to change the motion of an object. Sixth Grade S.IP.06.13 Use tools and equipment (spring scales, stop watches, meter sticks and tapes, models, hand lens, thermometer, models, sieves, microscopes) appropriate to scientific investigations. S.RS.06.12 Describe limitations in personal and scientific knowledge. S.RS.06.16 Design solutions to problems using technology. E.SE.06.61 Describe the Earth as a magnet and compare the magnetic properties of the Earth to that of a natural or manufactured magnet. E.SE.06.62 Explain how a compass works using the magnetic field of the Earth, and how a compass is used for navigation on land and sea. D. MATERIALS: Hartley has all the equipment for this unit. Following is a listing of the equipment Hartley has: 1. Silva Liquid Filled Compasses 2. Topographic Maps of the Hartley Area 3. Trail Map of Hartley 4. Direction Cards for the Compass Course – with distances to be traveled in either feet for the more advanced students, or number of steps for the younger students. 5. Magellan 12-channel GPS Navigators (4). For supervised use with students. Revised on 4/9/2021 3 GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS & STUDENTS A. VOCABULARY: • Bearing - The direction of travel measured in degrees from North (between 0 and 360). • Cardinal Directions - The major headings: North, South, East, West, and the in- between points: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. • Compass - An instrument used to find Magnetic North. • Degrees of a Compass – An angular reading from 0 to 360 degrees, which divides the compass into equal units. • Direction of Travel Arrow - The arrow for you to follow, it is found on the base plate of the compass. It points the direction (known as the bearing) you are to travel. • Magnetic North - Direction to the Magnetic North Pole, the direction a compass needle points to. • North Arrow - The red (colored) end of the magnetic needle in a compass that point to the magnetic North Pole • Orienteering - The sport of cross-country travel using map and compass. • Topographic Map - A map showing the contour (changes in elevation) of the land, as well as man made features. • True North - Direction to The North Pole. • Legend – The part of a map that contains the important information (name, scale, symbols, etc.) needed to interpret the map. • Scale - The means for showing the ratio for the distance on the ground that is represented by the distance on the map. • Contour Line - A line on a topographic map (usually brown), which indicates altitude for every point on that line (distance above sea level). A number notes the altitude on the line. The "interval" of height between lines is stated on the map. Knowing the contour, you know where the hills are. • Step - The distance traveled when placing one foot in front of the other in a "Normal" manner. This is used to estimate distances traveled. • Pace – the distance traveled when only counting one foot, it is equal to two steps. • GPS – Ground Positioning System. Satellites and a hand held receiver system that gives you your location, to within 100 feet. B. DISCUSSION: Orienteering is a fast growing scholastic sport in Europe, Canada, and the USA. The rational behind the growth in this sport may have to do with the wide range of subject areas that are related to orienteering, i.e., Arithmetic, Geometry, Geography, Reading and Language Arts, Science, Survival, Art and Physical Education. Revised on 4/9/2021 4 Hartley has one main activity used during the residential program. This is a compass game. It is explained in the activity section beginning on page 8 (A-5). The orienteering techniques taught in this class are the basics. Thus, the students will need continued practice of these orienteering skills before they will be able to compete in an orienteering activity somewhere else. These orienteering techniques are very important to anyone who does any hiking or other means of travel through "uncharted" lands. One's survival may depend upon knowing these techniques. It is hoped that you, the classroom teacher, will introduce the use of the compass to your students before their arrival at Hartley. This will allow for more field time. However, a review of the compass will be given to the students at Hartley prior to the field exercise. Note: It is the experience of the Hartley staff, that the students that appreciate this class the most, are the ones that have had an introduction to the compass before their adventure into orienteering here at Hartley. A short lesson on the compass back in the school setting does make a big difference to the students during their field experience. In explaining the compass to students there are just three (3) main points to remember: 1. The North Arrow is a magnetic needle. Being a magnet, it seeks metal (Iron) objects that are nearby, as well as the Magnetic North Pole. As this arrow points North, stress to the students this is not the arrow to follow. 2. The Orienting Arrow is on the base plate inside the compass housing. This arrow needs to be lined up with (underneath) the North arrow. When the Orienting Arrow and the North arrow are aligned to the Magnetic North Pole, the housing containing the degree dial around the rim is oriented. 3. The Direction-of-Travel Arrow is used to show the bearing direction (the direction you want to go). This all works when you hold the compass flat in your hand, with the direction-of-travel arrow pointing the same direction as your nose and toes. When the Direction-of-Travel Arrow is lined up with the bearing on the degree dial, and the Orienting Arrow and North Arrow are lined up, you should be facing the proper direction. Basic map reading skills can also be taught in the classroom. The Legend and symbols (symbols for topographic map in appendix) area of the map is the place to begin, as this varies with the maps used. The students should be able to locate North on the map (North is almost always to the top of the map) and the scale used in preparing the map.