Compass Frisbee Golf
Environmental Education Lesson
Edwards YMCA Camp and Conference Center
Summary
After learning how to use a compass the students will complete our orienteering course in the form of a nine or eighteen hole Frisbee golf course.
Usage
Grade levels: 5th-12th Year round.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson students will:
understand how to find compass bearings.
list the four cardinal directions. NSEW
complete an orienteering course
In addition students could:
determine their pace.
Materials
15 compasses and 15 Frisbees
demonstration compass
score card and dry erase markers
Introduction
Begin with a discussion of what a compass is used for (finding directions). Discuss the four cardinal directions (North, South, East, West). Show how to hold a compass (dial near the body, arrow of travel pointing away from body). Stress the importance of keeping the string of the compass around your neck and NOT twirling it on your finger. This can cause air bubbles that can ruin the compass. Now discuss the different parts of a compass, the dial, the red needle (which always points north), the numbering on the dial (which is in 2 degree increments).
Begin by explaining how to find a direction on the compass.
- Set the dial on 360° so it lines up with the direction of travel arrow.
- Now turn your body, NOT THE COMPASS, until the red needle is over the arrow on the bottom of the compass.
- When this is lined up you are facing the direction shown at the base of the direction of travel arrow. In this case it is 360 degrees. After everyone has found it, practice with other bearing readings 0-360°.
*Have the students stand during this exercise and try not to allow the compass to come in contact with metal objects (or near them) because it will throw off the reading.
The Course
The course consists of a competitive orienteering course where the "markers" are approximately 6 feet above the ground on a tree. The markers are made of a one inch round piece of silver metal and is visible from the previous marker. There are numbers under the markers. Students take the directional reading (bearing) from the degree column on the scorecard. Students set the bearing on their compass. When students sight down their compass it should be pointing at a large tree with a marker. Students throw their frisbee until they hit the tree, keeping count of the number of throws it takes,
similar to strokes in golf. Par is the goal score. Students throw the frisbee differently so their score may not equal the par.
Start at the utility light in the parking lot. The first bearing is 68 degrees and the par is 2. Find 68 degrees on the compass and throw the frisbee in that direction. When you reach the marker, mark down the number of throws and proceed to the next marker. Everyone has the same course. Students should start the course in small groups. Some could also start on the back nine.
NAME__________________________ |
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| # | BEARING (Degrees) | PAR | SCORE |
| 1 | 68 | 2 | |
| 2 | 230 | 4 | |
| 3 | 130 | 3 | |
| 4 | 178 | 4 | |
| 5 | 142 | 4 | |
| 6 | 31 | 3 | |
| 7 | 129 | 4 | |
| 8 | 171 | 5 | |
| 9 | 130 | 2 | |
| 10 | 50 | 2 | |
| 11 | 360 | 2 | |
| 12 | 95 | 3 | |
| 13 | 170 | 4 | |
| 14 | 18 | 3 | |
| 15 | 344 | 3 | |
| 16 | 67 | 3 | |
| 17 | 312 | 2 | |
| 18 | 262 | 7 | |
| full page score sheet is available as a PDF Document.
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