Line Orienteering Course
Each pair follows a line drawn on the map out on the ground, and since they do not know where the controls are, they must spot them along the way and mark their exact position on the map. It builds continuous map reading, focus, and the link between map and terrain.
How to play
- Before class, draw a continuous route of about 400 yards on the school map and place 8 lettered controls right on that route, without marking them on the map.
- Form pairs and give each a map and a card; explain that they must always follow the drawn line with the map set (3 min).
- Pairs start every 30 seconds so they don't simply follow each other.
- Each time they find a control, they write its letter on the card and circle the exact spot on the map where they think it is (12 min).
- At the finish, the teacher shows a master map with the real locations: one point per letter and one more for each correctly placed circle (5 min).
- Wrap up with 4 minutes for pairs to compare maps and talk about where they drifted off the line.
Rules
- Stay on the line; taking a shortcut cancels the controls on that section.
- No passing at a run in narrow spots; pass only in open areas.
- Do not move or hide controls from the pairs behind you.
- If a pair gets lost, they go back to the last known point on the route and continue from there.
Variations
Easier
Use a short route that turns only at very clear corners and mark the controls on the map with numbers.
Standard
A route of about 400 yards with 8 hidden controls on the line that must be placed on the map.
Harder
Add decoy controls a few yards off the line that should not be recorded.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: design an alternate route on paved paths with the same number of controls.
- Autism or shyness: let that pair start first so the route is free of other pairs.
- Fitness level: let faster pairs run a second loop on a different route.
Learning goals
- Follow a route on the ground by reading the map continuously.
- Accurately place points found on the ground onto the map.
- Spot and correct navigation mistakes along the way.
Equipment for a class of 25
- maps: 14
- controls: 8
- cards: 13
- pencils: 13
Teacher tip
Put controls at points with a recognizable feature, like a change in surface or a tree, so they can be placed accurately. Check answers with a master map on a transparency laid over each pair's map.
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