MAP SKILLS AND MINI-ORIENTEERING

Learn to use maps and compasses at your school!

We live in an age where ever-increasing reliance is placed on gadgets to tell us where in the world we are.  Yet the information held in maps, and what this can tell us about the world around us, is as relevent now as ever.

Children love maps! Looking at maps in a classroom is fine but to really get your pupils engaged, you need to take them and the maps outside! Orienteering is a fantastic way to build your pupil’s navigational skill set and confidence. The fundamentals of navigation and map reading are very simple – distance, direction and understanding what information a map can give us. Introduce these in a fun informative  way and you’ll be giving skills that last a lifetime.

You don’t need to go to the logistical trouble or financial expense of organizing and off-site visit for your pupils to experience the fun and learning opportunities of orienteering. As an Outdoor Activities Instructor and Expedition Leader (with an enhanced DBS check), who has been delivering “Map Skills” activity sessions in primary schools all over the country for over twelve years, I can introduce your children to maps, compasses and navigation in a fun and inspiring way on your school site.
A “Map Skill and Mini-Orienteering” session incudes the following elements:

● Looking at what information we can get from Ordnance Survey maps – what the colours and symbols mean, the map’s grid, contours and the concept of scale;

● Making a huge map from climbing rope on the playground with children acting as locations to look at compass directions [KS1] or getting some compasses out and learning how to set a simple bearing and finding out how to locate north without a compass [KS2];

● Seeing how we can measure distance by counting paces and use this as a giant ruler;

● Taking part in a mini-orienteering challenge – using a specially drawn map of the school, the children use their new skills to find as many hidden flags as they can!

Sessions duration can be adjusted to fit more sessions into a day and all equipment is supplied. Content is tailored to be age-appropriate for any year group and supports the National Curriculum.

Group size limit – thirty children.

N.B. Orienteering fulfils the National Curriculum PE requirement for an outdoor and adventurous activity.