Environmental Education for Kids
Eek!: Outdoor Safety: Reading a Compass and Orienteering
Explains how to use a compass to orient yourself outdoors.
Other
Learn Orienteering: How to Use a Compass
This site is an easy-to-follow guide on how to use a compass.
Other
Geoscience Australia: Map Reading Guide: How to Use Topographic Maps [Pdf]
A topographic map can be challenging to read. This guide explains how to decipher one and how to use a magnetic compass to orient yourself to the landscape. It also explains how to use GPS coordinates.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Measurement of Compass Orientations of Rock Fractures
In this field activity, students measure rock fractures with a geologic compass and formulate a hypothesis to explain the origin of the fractures.
Florida State University
Florida State University: Molecular Expressions: Magnetic Fields and Compass Orientation
Simulate the creation of an induced magnetic field through the use of a simple electric circuit. An interactive demonstration is included.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Where Is Your Teacher?
In this activity, students will learn how to take bearing with a compass. They will also learn how to describe a bearing and find an object in their classroom using a bearing.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Circles of Magnetism
Create a magnetic field that is stronger than Earth so a compass needle will orient itself to the new field in this activity.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Topo Map Mania!
Maps are designed to allow people to travel to a new location without a guide to show the way. They tell us information about areas to which we may or may not have ever been. There are many types of maps available for both recreational...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Bearings 2
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is a flipchart introducing student to compass bearings. It can be followed by flipchart bearings going further in depth of bearing orientation.
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Magnetic Multipole Field Model
A simulation which shows the field of a magnetic dipole or quadrupole using compass needles indicating direction and relative field strength. Change the angular orientation of the dipole, and a movable compass shows the magnetic field...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Getting to the Point
In this lesson, students learn how to determine location by triangulation. We describe the process of triangulation and practice finding your location on a worksheet, in the classroom, and outdoors.