Identifying the Direction

‘How do sailors find direction while sailing in the sea?’ First, the students freely explored and discussed methods of direction determination from ancient to modern times. Students then proceeded to determine the direction in practice through the following two activities: Activity #1: Watching the Sun. One of the simplest methods for identifying direction is watching the movement of the sun across the sky. Students would rely on the direction of the sun movement from East to West to identify directions, thereby figuring the orientation of the school’s buildings. Next, students discussed their observations with each other, recorded their conclusions and presented them to the whole class. Activity #2: Using a compass. The compass is one of the earliest navigational tools. The teacher introduced the compass, how to use it, and let the students practice using it to determine the direction. Students recorded their results, discussed the findings with each other, and presented to the whole class. Finally, teachers encouraged students to try other simple methods at home such as observing the stars and then brought the methods to class to further discuss them.

Students know how to determine direction in practice using simple methods (observing natural phenomena or using a compass).

Through this, students could explore the challenge, develop their skills including teamwork, collaboration, problem solving skills, and motor skills. They could also improve communication skills and apply the knowledge in real life.

Students perform activities based solely on observing natural phenomena and using compass/compass app on a smartphone.