Hello all, I always have students focus on understanding and using cardinal directions, and my kids made tactile maps fairly frequently. Although, making maps was usually something we worked on either if the weather was too bad for outdoor travel or sometimes as a reward. I would have kids make a tactile map of places we visited, such as the school or neighborhood, with wicky sticks, tactile stickers and braille adhesive labels. Having students make a tactile map would also show me where they have gaps in their understanding of the area, such as not understanding that a hallway makes a T or L shaped intersection vs. a plus shaped intersection. I would ask them specific questions using cardinal directions on the map. We also used tactile maps for learning how the address system worked and for other concepts, like street intersections and city blocks. I think it is more useful for the student to make the map and explain it to you rather than you making the map alone to show to the student. If I was making a map to show a student something in particular, I explained each section of the map as I went instead of handing it to them afterward. As for other things to teach cardinal directions, some kids are interested to learn what is around them in any given direction. I remember a student being fascinated with knowing that East is facing Asia and South is to Mexico and things like that. This can also be done with a map of the U.S. or by explaining nearby states. Check to see what types of maps they are using in classes. The sun can be useful as well once kids have a basic idea of cardinal directions. Even just knowing that the sun rises in the East in the morning and sets in the West in the afternoon can be very helpful! One simple game I would play was where we would go outside in an open area in the sun, like a quiet parking lot, with sleep shades on (of course) and spin around, then figure out which direction we were facing by using the sun and other auditory cues. Simple but effective! ? Liz Wisecarver
On May 16, 2016, at 9:27 AM, Sumara.Shakeel at dhs.state.nj.us wrote:
It seems that map skills are often explored very briefly or taught as a filler exercise during a rainy day in conventional teachings (I guess the idea of traveling during a heavy snowfall is preposterous). There is no development of these skills through their incorporation into travel routes, and cardinal directions are left out altogether. An O&M instructor once gave me a tactile map of a travel route without any explanation of it, and that was the extent of my exposure to maps. Perhaps a few of us can collaborate on an article using examples of our work with students to illustrate. Thank you again for the ideas.
Sumara
From: Fredric Schroeder [mailto:fschroeder at sks.com <mailto:fschroeder at sks.com>] Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2016 10:57 AM To: Sumara Shakeel; mperet at BISM.org <mailto:mperet at bism.org>; NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org <mailto:NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: RE: [Nomc] seeking creative ideas for teaching compass directions to children
Sumara, et al,
Once all the ideas are collected, this would be a great best practices article.
Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D.
From: NOMC [mailto:nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org <mailto:nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org>] On Behalf Of Sumara.Shakeel at dhs.state.nj.us <mailto:Sumara.Shakeel at dhs.state.nj.us> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 12:13 PM To: mperet at BISM.org <mailto:mperet at bism.org>; NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org <mailto:NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: Re: [Nomc] seeking creative ideas for teaching compass directions to children
Maurice,
Those are great ideas! Thank you.
Sumara
From: Maurice Peret [mailto:mperet at BISM.org <mailto:mperet at BISM.org>] Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 12:07 PM To: Sumara Shakeel; NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org <mailto:NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: RE: [Nomc] seeking creative ideas for teaching compass directions to children
Greetings Sumara, I trust that this message finds you well.
I?m not sure how helpful this might or mightn?t be but I?ve sometimes used the concept of a face clock with folks struggling with cardinal directions; north being 12:00, east 3:00, south 6:00, and west 9:00. Trouble is, most people have become more accustomed to digital time devices. An idea that crept into mind, however, is perhaps circling chairs around a circle as for Musical chairs and the object might be to identify the chair at each compass point. You could do the same thing with a cake walk, have tasty treats at North, East, South, and West. Depending upon how challenging you want to get, you could even give bonuses for kids who can identify NE, SE, SW, and NW.
Hope to see you in Orlando.
Maurice From: NOMC [mailto:nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org <mailto:nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org>] On Behalf Of Sumara.Shakeel at dhs.state.nj.us <mailto:Sumara.Shakeel at dhs.state.nj.us> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 11:48 AM To: NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org <mailto:NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: [Nomc] seeking creative ideas for teaching compass directions to children
Hello,
We are planning activities for the children?s summer program at our state agency, and I am wondering if anyone has ideas for teaching compass directions to children as part of a map skills activity. They range in age from about six to twelve. I, of course, know how to teach compass directions but am looking for fun and creative ways to present this to children as I have worked primarily with adults.
Sumara Shakeel
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