Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand how compasses work and how they are used in geography.

Materials and Prep

• A compass
• A map of your local area
• A pencil
• Clear space to move around

Activities

• Start by introducing the compass to the student. Show them how the needle always points north.

• Explain the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) and how they relate to the compass.

• Take the student outside and have them stand in one place. Ask them to point to the north using the compass.

• Using the map of the local area, have the student identify different landmarks and determine their direction from their current location using the compass.

• Have the student draw a simple map of their own, including some landmarks, and label the cardinal directions.

Third Grade Talking Points

• "Today, we are going to learn about compasses and how they help us with directions."

• "A compass is a tool that shows us which way is north."

• "The needle in the compass always points towards the north."

• "North, south, east, and west are called cardinal directions."

• "Cardinal directions help us navigate and find our way around."

• "Let's go outside and use the compass to find north from where we are standing."

• "Now, let's look at the map and see if we can find different landmarks and figure out which direction they are from us."

• "Now it's your turn to create your own map. Remember to label the cardinal directions!"