Compass Rose: Run to the Direction You Hear

Eight cones in a circle form a giant compass rose, and the class runs to the direction the teacher calls. It warms up the body and locks in the cardinal and intermediate directions.

How to play

1. Set one cone in the middle and eight cones 10 m out with signs N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW; easy jog around reading the signs (2 min).
2. The teacher calls a direction; everyone jogs to that cone, touches it and comes back to the middle (2 min).
3. Run forward to the main directions and shuffle sideways to the in-between ones (2 min).
4. Remove the signs: students have to remember each direction; then the teacher announces that north is now a different cone (2 min).
5. Opposites: the teacher says "opposite of northeast" and everyone runs southwest (2 min).

Rules

• Always return to the middle on the outside of anyone arriving.
• Slow down before the cone and touch it with your hand, no collisions.
• No backward running near the group.
• If you're not sure, look at the others and adjust without stopping.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with low vision: tall, brightly colored cones and a partner who runs alongside calling the direction.
• Limited mobility: a 5 m circle for their route, or point to the direction from the middle.
• Hesitant students: run with a partner for the first rounds until they feel confident.

Learning goals

• Name and locate the eight directions of the compass rose.
• Warm up with changes of direction and movement type.
• Link each direction to its opposite.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 9
• direction signs: 8

Teacher tip

Write the signs on laminated paper and tape them to the cones. Common mistake: mixing up east and west after north moves; have them point to north before they go.

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