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Lesson Planet
This Make Your Own Compass activity also includes:
Scholars build a compass using a needle, cork, magnet, and a water-filled cup in order to locate the magnetic north and south.
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NGSS:
Adaptable
Concepts
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
- Invite parents and guardians to assist children making compasses in the classroom
- Send a copy of the instructions home so learners can build a compass with their family members
- Confirm the accuracy of pupil-constructed compasses with a hand-held compass
Classroom Considerations
- Inform class members of the safety measures for handling needles
- Requires an assortment of materials; to save time and money, ask parents and guardians to donate supplies
Pros
- Provides background information about how sailors used magnetic compasses to sail oceans and seas
- Breaks instructions down into seven detailed steps
Cons
- None