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Description

Ticks off all requirements for navigator level 1 badge

Resources

Large letters N, S, E, W
Map of local area,
Map of theme park or similar,
Paper and pencils,
Grid reference2 resource printed out (laminated if using outside)
Items for Kim's game

Instructions

What is navigation?
Working out where you are, and then planning and following a route to get to a specific destination.

Why important?
• If you are lost
• Speed/efficiency
• Safety of route

What could we use to help us navigate?
• Map
• Compass / cardinal points, e.g. knowing that you need to head east
• Use a landmark, e.g. a tall building, a river

Activity 1: Where are compasses used? - 15 mins
When it is dark or foggy, ships need to know they are sailing in the right direction. A ship’s navigator uses a compass to check that they are still on course. Explorers also use a compass to help them find their way and avoid getting lost.

The 4 main points are North, South, East and West (going clockwise they are NESW). Sometimes popular rhymes or well known sayings help us remember things. Do you know any rhymes to help you remember the order of the 4 cardinal compass points? Here’s are some examples to get you thinking:
• Naughty Elephants Squirt Water
• Never Eat Soggy Worms

Ask Beavers if they can think of others.

Ask Beavers if they think they know where north is in the scout hut and ask them to move to that wall. Once they’ve all selected a place, Leader to use compass at hut or on phone to find out where north is and ask them all to move there. If there are enough compasses can get assistant leader to help look for West. Get Beavers to move to where West is, remind them of rhyme if they’re not sure, then move East and finally South.

GAME: Everybody spreads out around the room and start by facing North. Everybody except the Leader and helpers use their neckers to tie around their eyes as a blindfold (adults may need to help). Ask beavers to stand in their position and explain they will only be turning to the direction the leader calls out.

Leader then calls out a direction such as West. The beavers then turn to point in that direction. After a few goes leaders go round tapping those who are pointing wrongly. They are out for the next round, let them join in in next round. The first few rounds are a trial. Play 10 rounds if time.

Split into two or 4 groups and spend 15 mins on each activity and then swap groups to do the other activity
Activity 2 - Find features on a map - Use the Legoland map to:
The entrance to the park.
Two sets of toilets.
A locker.
The First Aid point.
A picnic area.
The Dragon ride.
Pirate Falls.
Somewhere to buy food.
The quickest route from the entrance to LEGO City Driving School.
Which themed area is south of Miniland?
A ride near a restaurant.
A route from Pirate Shores to DUPLO Valley without passing through Miniland.

Activity 3 - Draw Map
Ask the beavers to go to a table in their lodges and ask Beavers to draw a simple map of where they live, the Scout Hut or another area local to them.
They can do this by drawing a simple Aerial Sketch Map (aerial because it’s from above!). It is a really clear way to show a building or area. Each helper ot explain they need to include:
1. a title
2. labels or annotations where needed
3. simple lines
4. a North arrow so you know which way the map is facing.
5. a note to say that it is not to scale
Show them the attached example

Activity 4 - Relay Game
Relay Game: The document attached is 4 slightly different 'bingo' cards. Print two copies of each and cut one complete copy up to create individual pictures, and use the other copy as game boards. Give each team one of the four game boards and scatter the individual pictures at the end of the room. Each team member takes turns to collect a picture and see if it matches their game board, if it doesn't the next player must take it back, if it does it is kept. The first team with a complete game board wins.

Discussion: Now get each team to discuss the essentials for a wilderness camping trip, the game should have given them some ideas. Each team must agree a short list with the most important items they would take, the leader should decide how many items they are allowed. They must discuss and agree on the list. When each group has finished, or the leader decides enough time has passed get the teams back into a group and allow them to present their ideas and discuss them.

Other ideas:

Play N/S/E/W game (letter E on east wall, letter N on north wall, etc.) For beavers just shout the name of the direction. For Cubs started that way then we made it a bit more difficult by shouting different countries or cities out.

Next get them to find features on a map (we used Alton Towers park map and got them to find toilets, lockers, different rides, restaurants).

Then we got them to draw a map of their route to school or to our meeting place.

Finally we went outside (can be done inside) to play our grid reference game. They lined up, were told how to use grid references, then in turn they chose the picture they wanted and were given the grid reference to follow. Once everyone had done this we then got them to read the grid reference and follow it to return their picture to the correct square. We did this a few times then on their last turn they had to chose a different picture and say the grid reference before going to get it.

A quick game of Kim's game with items needed for map reading and hikes.

Tags

• Grid Reference Challenge
• grid reference introduction
• grid references, co-ordinates
• Navagation
• navigate
• Navigation using map skills (introducing the compass)
• Navigator Activity Badge
• Navigator Badge
• Navigator local area
• Navigator stage 1

Badge Links

• Navigator - 4 compass points
• Navigator - Draw map
• Navigator - Equipment
• Navigator - Features
• Navigator - Locate
• Navigator - Use map