Orienteering for Youngsters Lesson Plan

1st Grade

Objective:  Students will learn how to use the keys on a map when following a string orienteering course.

Equipment Needed:  Sample map, compass, basketball court (for warm-up), strings (different colors), stickers,  cones,

Preparation: 

• Create a map of school’s playground with a key and symbols specific equipment.
• Place cones (control markers) around the playground and field.  Attach an envelope with various stickers inside.
• Create several string courses by attaching strings from various equipment to markers. 
• On the map, number the order in which the students will travel.  Have them start from different spots to prevent congestion.

Warm-up: (Airplanes)

• Class pretends to be airplanes.  The students zoom around the designated area (basketball court) with arms out, swooping, turning, and gliding – making sure they do not bump into each other.  (Students are urged to look for pathways.) 
• When commanded to land, they drop to the floor in prone position (lying on belly with arms by side). 
• When commanded to start engines and take-off, students must perform a specified number of push-ups and while making engine noises. (Pangrazi, 2007)
• Repeat several times

Introductory Activity:

• Teach students to say the word “Orienteering”
• Describe Orienteering: moving from one place to another while using a map and compass.
• Students will learn how to use a map and compass at a later date. 

Activity:

• Students are placed into groups of two or three.
• Each group is given an envelope with a different sticker on the outside of the envelope. 
• Students are instructed to take out the map that is inside their envelope and unfold it.
• Teacher explains that the map shows their school’s playground and field.  There are features on the map that include trees, playground equipment, basketball hoops, and tetherball poles.  Symbols are used to identify these features.
• Also included on the maps are the “control markers” which are designated areas in which they will find a sticker inside each of the envelopes.
• Students will follow their map’s course and pick-up the stickers and place them on their map until they return to their finish area.  

Closing Activity:

• Each group shares their map with their class. 

Reference:

Pangrazi, Robert P.  (2007) Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children.  San Francisco, CA: Pearson & Benjamin Cummings

Orienteering for the Young.  (April, 2010)

 http://www.us.orienteering.org/OYoung/