Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Create a Compass

For Students 6th - 12th
Historically, humans have used many methods of finding due north. Using a hands-on activity, learners create their own compasses. They then test their compasses in their neighborhood or to assist with stargazing.
Activity
NOAA

Make Your Own Compass

For Students 3rd - 5th
Scholars build a compass using a needle, cork, magnet, and a water-filled cup in order to locate the magnetic north and south.
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Direction on the Earth: Using a Compass

For Students 6th - 8th
Navigate the world of orienteering in an informative interactive. Earth science scholars learn practical direction skills, such as proper polar coordinates and pairing compasses with maps. The interactive map allows them to practice...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Magnetic Fields: Making a Compass

For Teachers 4th
What better way to understand how an object works than to make one! Learners take what they learned in the previous lessons and construct their own compasses. Using a needle, water, and styrofoam, they build and test compasses and verify...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Earth's Magnetic Field: Compass Poles

For Students 6th - 9th
You'll be strangely drawn to this activity! Physical science pupils learn how compasses work in an interesting interactive. The content covers magnetic poles, Earth's magnetic field, and what would happen if Earth's poles swapped places.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Circle Compass Course

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students practice using a compass for directions. They use a compass to set and walk a designated course. In addition, they discuss careers and recreation that utilize a compass.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compass Building Instructions

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students build their own compass following a given procedure. In this technology lesson plan, students explain how a compass is used in navigation. They trace the history of its development.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make Your Own Compass

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore magnetism.  In this "magnets" science lesson, students make a compass with common household items and explain the relationship between what a compass does and the earth's magnetic fields.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using a Compass

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students determine how to shoot a bearing.  In this compass and orienteering lesson, students review the parts of a compass, practice how to find a bearing and work in groups to practice finding landmark bearings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth and the Compass

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders construct a water compass to investigate the effects of Earth's magnetic field and other sources of magnetism. They predict, observe and draw conclusions from their investigation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compass Rose

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students describe the movement of the Earth as it relates to the sun. They construct a permanent compass rose and use it to find directions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Topos, Compasses, and Triangles, Oh My!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers triangulate using a compass, topographical (topo) map and a view of outside landmarks. They take a field trip to another location away from school and mark discernible landmarks (like mountains or radio towers) and...
Organizer
Curated OER

Compass Rose Activity

For Students 4th - 6th
Which direction is which? Use this compass rose labeling worksheet to practice with basic directions as learners fill in the compass themselves. They use cardinal and intermediate direction abbreviations. Consider using their compass on...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Compass Rose

For Students 7th - 10th
There isn't much learners do on this compass rose worksheet- an image includes degrees of direction and abbreviations of both cardinal and intermediate directions. There is a blank for students to fill out the compass #, however it is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

True North, Magnetic North

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explain why compass angles need to be corrected for regional magnetic variation. They observe the difference between magnetic and true north. Each student measures the angle of variation for a town in a different state.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compass Deviation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and describe the difference between the magnetic north pole and true north. They consider why sailors could not steer a straight course to the New World from the Old.
Activity
It's About Time

The Electricity and Magnetism Connection

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Magnets don't grow in fields, but magnetic fields are important to understand. The lesson covers the effect electricity has on magnetic fields. Scholars use a compass, magnets, and electrical wire to test magnetic fields and energy...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Sun Compass of the Vikings

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Evidence shows the Vikings likely navigated by using a simple sundial to find their course. Videos, a short story, and discussion help bring this time period to life as they study European history with a hands-on experiment. Scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Magnet / Compass

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the components of a compass and how it is utilized to determine geographical directions. The magnetic field of Earth and the magnet used to magnetize the needle used in the experiment are compared and contrasted in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making A Compass

For Teachers 4th
This interesting science lesson is about the compass. Students make a compass out of a magnet, sewing needle, cork, and a glass dish. The lesson includes both a pre and post-test for the students to take, and some very good links to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Reading a Compass

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars demonstrate how to take bearings using a compass. In pairs, they select objects in the classroom then write down its first initial and bearing. They exchange papers and try to disciver their partner's object.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienteering - The Fundamentals

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students investigate the concept of a compass and it has been used in the past and in modern times. They practice using it in the wilderness in order to test its importance in various exploring activities. Each activity is accompanied by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magnetometer

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Physical or earth science pupils prepare a magnetometer by inducing magnetism into a pair of straight pins. As the pins hang from a thread, they can be used to detect the magnetic field or poles of a magnet. They could also be used as a...
Activity
K-State Research and Extensions

Water

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How are maps like fish? They both have scales. The chapter includes six different activities at three different levels. Scholars complete activities using natural resources, learn how to read a map, see how to make a compass rosette,...

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