True North: A Fun Guide to Compass Skills for Kids

Navigating with a compass is like holding a tiny piece of adventure in your hands! Knowing how to use one opens up a whole new world of exploration and independence. Whether you're a parent, educator, or outdoor enthusiast, teaching kids to use a compass can be a rewarding experience. Let's break down the basics of compass skills, teach you how to find your direction, and challenge you to try a "Tricky Triangle" for some fun outdoor learning.

Compass Basics: Meet Your Compass Parts

Before heading out on your adventure, it's essential to get familiar with the compass itself. Here's a quick overview of its key parts:

• Needle: The red end of your compass needle always points North.
• Baseplate: The flat bottom part of the compass that you hold.
• Housing: The outer ring that turns and is marked with numbers from 0 to 360°, giving you your “bearing” or angle of direction.
• Orienting Arrow: Inside the housing and moves with the dial.
• Direction of Travel Arrow: Points to where you're headed on the baseplate.

Cool Features of Your Compass

• Scale: Use the 1:50,000 scale on the left and the 1:25,000 scale on the top with a matching map to calculate distances.
• Magnifying Glass: Perfect for examining plants, bugs, or rocks up close!
• Markers: Use triangle markers for your starting point and circles for waypoints along your travels.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Find a Bearing

A “bearing” is the angle you’ll be walking from North. Here's a simple guide for kids:

1. Find North

Hold your compass level so the needle can move freely. The red end will point North.

2. Finding Your Direction

• Stand with the travel arrow pointing forward.
• Turn the housing so the orienting arrow lines up with the red magnetic needle.
• Look at the number on the inner ring below the red needle; this is your bearing!

Pro Tip: Watch Out for Metal!

Large metal objects can mess with your compass needle. Make sure you’re away from cars, metal fences, or large rock formations when checking your direction.

Fun Facts & Compass History

• The Sun’s Clues: Remember, “East before West.” The sun rises in the East and sets in the West!
• Medieval Maps: In Europe, maps once had East at the top because of the sunrise—cartographers thought it was a natural choice.
• Magnetic North Isn’t True North: Magnetic North is actually in Northern Canada, near Ellesmere Island! If you stood at the Geographic North Pole with your compass, it would point to Magnetic North, about 500 km away.

Fun Activity: Tricky Triangles

This activity will put your compass skills to the test! You’ll create a triangle using bearings, then see if you end up back at your starting point.

How to Create a Triangle:

1. Mark Point A

Start by lining up the red magnetic needle with your direction of travel arrow. Rotate the housing so the orienting arrow matches the needle, setting your bearing to 360° (North).

2. Walk to Point B

Walk 20 steps, keeping your compass steady and aligned. This is Point B.

3. Set a New Bearing to 120°

Rotate the housing to 120° and realign your compass. Walk 20 more steps. This is Point C.

4. Final Bearing to 240°

Rotate the housing to 240° and align the magnetic needle. Walk another 20 steps.

If you followed each step correctly, you should arrive back at Point A!

Triangle Challenge:

Want to make it harder? Try increasing the number of steps. Can you do 100 steps in each direction and still end up at your starting point?

Did You Know?

A compass works because Earth is one giant magnet! The north end of a compass needle is attracted to Earth’s Magnetic North, which is actually a magnetic South Pole (opposites attract!). Some animals, like birds, sea turtles, and butterflies, can sense this magnetic field and use it for migration. Certain birds even have a special protein in their eyes that lets them “see” Earth’s magnetic field!

Recap & Remember

Using a compass is all about keeping the magnetic needle and the orienting arrow aligned. By practicing your bearing and walking between waypoints, you’ll be able to master the art of navigation in no time!

Compass skills help you connect with nature, learn essential survival skills, and become an independent explorer. So grab your compass, head outdoors, and start navigating your own adventures!