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Why is north at the top of the map? - ARCHIVED
Spaceship Earth Unit | Lesson 12 of 5

Why is north at the top of the map? - ARCHIVED

Spaceship Earth Unit | Lesson 12 of 5
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Teachers: Please note! Mystery 7, coming up in a few weeks, requires students to keep a Moon Journal. Depending on the current phase of the Moon they may need to start this soon! This week would be a good time to give each student a Moon Journal handout and have them get started.

Discuss: What does it mean to say the globe is a model of the Earth?

Reveal answer

Discuss: Where is the map of your bedroom on the globe?

Reveal answer

Discuss: Which is closer to the North Pole: the blue house or the forest (with the five trees)?

Reveal answer

Neighborhood

Discuss: Is there an East Pole and a West Pole?

Reveal answer

Discuss: What do you think East and West are pointing to on the compass rose?

Reveal answer

Class Demonstration

Once you know one direction, you can figure out all the other directions. (This is handy, since some maps have a compass rose that only points “N”.) Try it.

Instructions:

  • "Everyone stand up"
  • Pick a direction. "Everyone point your bodies north."
  • "When I say a new direction, everyone quickly turn and point in that direction."

In the next slide is the Activity video. It will automatically pause every time there is a new step for students to do. To resume after each autopause, just press "play."

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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity & Exploration which you just completed.

Extra Activity: Never Eat Soggy Waffles

Have students write (and illustrate) a sentence to remind them of the order of the directions on the compass rose. (Our favorite is Never Eat Soggy Waffles, but view suggestions.)

Help them to acquire a sense of direction by marking the cardinal directions on the playground in chalk or on the classroom floor with tape.

Then have students draw a map of the classroom and add their own compass rose on the map.

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Grade 5

Earth & Space Patterns

Compass Directions

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this Mystery, students learn how the directions (N,S,E,W) relate to the globe and to the Earth itself. Students will build a sign-post.
Preview activity

Exploration

20 mins

Grade 5

Earth & Space Patterns

Compass Directions

Extend this lesson

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Astronomy Lesson 12: Why is north at the top of the map? - ARCHIVED

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