‘Finding a Location’

Geography Orienteering and Map Skills
Planned Learning/subject skills:
To practise and perform different trails and orienteering activities focusing on map orientation, basic coordinate work and ordnance survey symbol recognition
To discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of team performance
To solve simple group problems using communication. / Key attitudes and attributes:
team work
persistence
resilience
independence
working to a deadline - pace
Vocabulary: Map, orientation route, co-operation, key, map symbols, ordnance survey, control point control card, point to point orienteering, safety, coordinates, route, pace. / Resources: map of school, canes, plant pots, map symbol flash cards, orienteering punches, marker pens, control cards.
What is the outcome/impact?
( I can objectives) / What you will see?
(Activities) / Personal Development/
ECM outcomes
Warm up
I can identify how my body works in the different challenges set.
I know how to conserve my efforts and keep my concentration during tasks.
I can prepare myself effectively and follow safety procedures.
I can recognise map symbols from the 1:25 000 Ordnance Survey series.
Developing skills
I can improve the speed of my recognition of map symbols from the 1:25 000 Ordnance Survey series.
I can continue to develop my understanding of pace.
I can work effectively as a team.
Main activity
I am clear about what I have to achieve and recognise the importance of planning and thinking as I go.
I can read a simple map accurately, recognising symbols and features.
I can use simple coordinates to find a place on a map.
I can orientate myself and move with increasing confidence and accuracy when following trails and simple orienteering courses.
I can use physical and teamwork skills well in a variety of different challenges.
Cool down
I can identify what my team has done well and say how we could develop our learning further when facing similar challenges. / Symbol Stretch - 5 minutes
Children explore the available working space by moving in their own chosen way. When given a signal they stop and perform their own stretch or warm up. Whilst children are doing this teacher holds up a map symbol card. Children to shout out which feature the symbol represents.
Differentiation. Include a range of simple and more difficult symbols. Target groups or individual children to respond to these.
Symbol Spotters – 7 minutes
Children are divided into two teams. Each team is divided into two groups. One group holds the names of the map symbols you are focusing on. The other group - the spotters - line up ready to race. On the signal the spotters collect a picture symbol card. They shout out the name of the symbol and then run to select the child holding the corresponding name card. They then return to base. The next child in the group then selects a picture symbol and so on until all the picture and name cards have been matched. The team that completes the task in the quickest time are the winners.
Differentiation – the teams can be organised by ability, with each team having different symbols to match. More able children should use the more difficult symbols.
Alternatives – children could be timed doing this activity. You could also try swapping the flash cards so children select a symbol name and have to match it to the symbol picture.
Point to Point Orienteering – 7 minutes
Children are divided into two teams. Each team is divided into two groups. One group holds the names of the map symbols you are focusing on and they are the “control points”. The other group - the spotters - line up ready to race, this time they are provided with control cards.
These children have to visit all the control points in the given order on their control card and have their cards punched with proper orienteering punches or simply marked with a pen to indicate they have visited that point. The winner is the child who visits all the control points in the quickest time.
Differentiation – children have to complete the course in a given time. You could also introduce new symbols during this activity.
Trail Time – 20 minutes
Children are split into teams consisting of two or three children.
Each team has a plan of the school grounds and are given a series of coordinates to follow. These coordinates will lead groups to different control points. At the control point children have a map symbol to collect and identify.
Children visit each control point in a given order.
The winning team is the group who:
Complete the course in the quickest time.
Manage to complete the trial as a group.
Correctly collect and identify all the symbols.
Tips – have more control points than you have groups so you can ensure only one group is at one control point at a given time.
Give each group a different starting control point to visit; again ensuring you avoid bottle necks at the control sites.
Differentiation - for children who are struggling you could offer support by using a teaching assistant to complete the course with them or use peer support by ensuring a more able student works with a less able child.
Symbol stretch – 5 minutes
Children to stretch and reflect. As they are completing their own stretch ask them to reflect on their learning and share experiences of how they were successful in this lesson. / Be Healthy:
Know how to prepare physically and organisationally to be safe and efficient.
To understand how the challenge of outdoor and adventurous activities can help their fitness, health and wellbeing.
Stay Safe:
Correct use of appropriate equipment and understanding of safe practice when working in the wooded area and by the pond and stream.
Know how to prepare physically and organisationally to be safe and efficient.
Enjoy and achieve:
Understand the excitement and enjoyment of completing a challenge.
Develop awareness of social and personal skills.
Enjoy recreation.
Make a Positive Contribution:
Develop positive relationships through team work.
Develop self confidence.
Assessment for Learning
Performance of orienteering skills, map symbol recognition and basic coordinate work.
Ability to communicate with others in group tasks.
Ability to pace themselves through the task. / Achieve Economic Wellbeing:
Develop work place skills team work and independence, cooperation, pace and reflection.
Lesson Development.To develop the skills of orienteering further children need to be provided with learning opportunities that allow them to plot their own routes around a given trial. They also need to be introduced to using compass direction to find control points.
Useful websites
Hertfordshire Grid for Learning and Teaching -
British Orienteering website -

Lesson plan provided by Rebecca Higgins of NewtownPrimary School, Shropshire