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SCIENCE FIRST
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78-530 FIELDMASTER ORIENTEERING COMPASS
Our
Orienteering Compasses
are for use in the Northern Hemisphere. They come with a lanyard and are graduated 0 to
360 degrees in 2 degree intervals. Each has a liquid-filled capsule, declination correction scale, luminous points, and an
acrylic base. The base has a 4x magnifier. Additional compasses may be ordered (item #78-530).
THE FOUR DIRECTIONS
Here is an indoor game to review the four directions: North, South, East and West. It actually helps young children learn
the eight basic compass directions, including Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast. They learn to orient
themselves physically in a particular direction.
Before starting the game, place cards marked N, S, E and W on the four walls of the room. It is helpful to place them in
the general direction of true North, etc.
Line up the participants in open lines, arms-length apart, both sideways and front to back so there is space around each
child. You can then name a direction such as “Northwest”, and then quickly say “Freeze”.
The children should quickly turn to the direction they believe is northwest and then stop moving when you say “Freeze”.
Those who are facing the wrong way are out of the game. Continue until there is one child left, the “winner”.
Variations on the game include sending children out of the game who get the direction correct to give more training to the
others. Also, placing only the North card on the wall will make the game more challenging.
HOW TO USE A COMPASS
PARTS OF THE COMPASS
Before trying to find directions with the compass, it is a good idea to go over the parts with the children first. The large
Teacher Demonstration Compass is an excellent tool to show the compass parts to the students.
Every compass has the four directions, also known as the four cardinal points (North, South, East and West) and a
magnetized needle that points north. Have the children study the parts of the compass they are holding. Have them try to
turn the dial. Point out the degree scale around the dial. Let them try to hold the compass so the arrow “floats”.
Base
– The rectangular part of the compass that has a dial on it, a magnifier and several “scales” that look like rulers.
Bezel
(compass housing dial) – The dial that you can turn. There are numbers on the edge of the dial. These numbers go
from 0 to 360. These are the degrees of a circle. They also represent all the directions you can travel from any point. The
letters N, S, E and W are also on the dial, representing the four cardinal points. The compass housing contains the free-
moving magnetic compass needle.
Compass Needle
– The red and black arrow that is “floating”. The red part points to North.
Direction Dots
(not on all compasses) – The green glow-in-the-dark marks at North (two lines), South, East and West.
There is also a glow-in-the-dark dot on the North arrow. If you line up the dot on the arrow between the two dots at
North, it can help you find your way in low light.
Direction of Travel
– The front of the compass has the magnifying lens and a small clear dot. This is the direction of
travel. There are also two red lines on either side of the magnifier to help point the way to go when the compass is set
properly.
Map Marking Hole
– You can insert a pencil here when using the compass with a map (advanced skill).
