Aerial Photo vs. Map Park Course
In the park, one partner navigates with a printed aerial photo and the other with the orienteering map of the same area, and afterward they compare which one was more useful on each leg. Students learn what map symbols mean and how to read a natural setting.
How to play
- Print an aerial photo of the park and its orienteering map at the same scale, and mark the same 8 controls on both.
- Pair students up and give each partner a different sheet; take 3 minutes for them to find where they are right now.
- Course 1 has 4 controls in 8 minutes: partners stay together, but only the one with the aerial photo navigates while the other watches without helping.
- Course 2 has 4 controls in 8 minutes: now the partner with the orienteering map navigates and the other watches.
- At each control, they write down which feature helped them find it, such as a path, a stand of trees, or a change in slope.
- In the final 6 minutes, as a class, compare the two sheets: what shows up better on the photo, what appears only on the map, and why maps use symbols.
Rules
- Only the partner whose turn it is navigates; the observer steps in only if there is a hazard.
- Partners stay within 5 yards of each other.
- Safety: stay inside the park boundaries marked on both sheets and come back to the meeting point on the signal.
Variations
Easier
Keep both courses short with controls next to paths.
Standard
Two 4-control courses, switching sheets in between.
Harder
Crop the aerial photo so it shows only the area of each leg, and add a control in a wooded area.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: use courses on the park's paved paths with controls within 5 yards of them.
- Hearing impairment: agree on the meeting point and the return signal with a gesture and a set clock time.
- Fitness level: pairs can power walk instead of running.
Learning goals
- Match features in an aerial photo with map symbols.
- Explain the advantages of an orienteering map over a real image.
- Get around a nearby natural area safely and respectfully.
Equipment for a class of 25
- printed photos: 13
- maps: 13
- control markers: 8
Teacher tip
Choose an aerial photo where paths and trees are easy to tell apart; an old image can confuse students. Before leaving school, count students and go over the meeting point.
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