Bearing Round: What Does the Goal Read?

In pairs, students learn the parts of a baseplate compass and measure bearings from a fixed point to objects around the yard. It's the foundation for following bearings later: first you have to read them.

How to play

1. Compass parts: baseplate, direction-of-travel arrow, rotating bezel, needle with red north; away from metal and phones (6 min).
2. How to take a bearing: point the direction arrow at the object, turn the bezel until the orienting arrow lines up with the needle and read the degrees (6 min).
3. From a base cone, each pair takes bearings to five objects (hoop, tree, door, light pole, goal) and writes them down (8 min).
4. Compare with other pairs: if you're off by more than 10 degrees, redo it together (5 min).
5. Challenge: the teacher calls a bearing and pairs guess which object it points to before checking (5 min).

Rules

• Wear compasses on the lanyard or hold them; never throw them.
• Measure away from metal goals, fences and phones.
• Each pair works from its base cone and stays put while measuring.
• Walk between base cones.

Variations

Adaptations

• Low vision: a compass with large bezel numbers and a partner who reads the degrees.
• Wheelchair users: base cone on flat ground; measure the same way with the compass on the lap.
• Students who struggle with numbers: work with bearings rounded to tens.

Learning goals

• Know the parts of a baseplate compass.
• Take accurate bearings.
• Connect a number of degrees to a real direction.

Equipment for a class of 25

• baseplate compasses: 15
• cones: 6
• record sheets: 15
• pencils: 15

Teacher tip

If you only have eight compasses, use groups of three. Common mistake: reading the bearing at the tip of the needle; degrees are read at the index line by the direction arrow.

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