3 - Patterns

Use a simple map to do progressively harder courses

“We use a map to find things. We orient the map with landmarks”

Time and Space

30-60 minutes

Gym, schoolyard or local park

Materials and Set-Up

Checkpoints, landmark cones, clue sheets, pattern maps, answer keys

Set up checkpoints and landmark cones for Pattern-O

Vocabulary

Map, mental map, orient the map, landmark.

Spatial relationship words: next to, closest, furthest, between, etc.

Activities

Animal Orienteering

On your own, find the animals in order, using a clue sheet

Find the Cone

Stand by the circled cone with your map oriented

Pattern-O

In pairs, progress through increasingly difficult courses

Lesson

Goals

• Demonstrate mastery of orienteering with a clue sheet.

• Understand spatial relationship vocabulary.

• Orient a map using landmarks at corners of space.

• Relate a map checkpoint to actual checkpoint in terrain.

• Navigate a course shown on a map.

• Build a mental map of the checkpoints’ layout.

• Respect others’ personal space. (S2.E1)

• Cooperate and learn with others. (S4.E4, S4.E3)

Delivery

1. Warm up individually with Animal-O using the checkpoints in the geometric layout.

2. Answer: “Which cone is closest to the red landmark?” etc.

3. Tell the teacher how to orient the demonstration map.

4. Pair up; receive Level 1 map; stand by the circled checkpoint.

5. Orienteer until all pairs have had success at Levels 3 and 5. Visit the checkpoints in order starting with the triangle and ending with the double circle.

6. Navigate full courses (5+ checkpoints).

   1. Repeat for speed.

   2. Repeat from memory.

   3. Help other students who need assistance.

Reflection

• What was challenging about matching up the animals?

• What was easy?

• What sort of mistakes did you make?

• How did you solve problems?

• Discuss the mental map you built.

• How did you interact with others? (S5.E4)

Extensions

• Adjust the number of levels based on students’ abilities.

• Substitute Group Memory for Animal-O activity.

• Add the Fix the Map activity.

• Remove colored cones from the corners.

• Have students draw their own map of the space.

• Have students design their own course on a map.