Rich tasks
- These are problem solving open-ended questions that require students to investigate maps and position. The tasks can be given at the start of a topic and done as the students gain enough knowledge to complete them, inserted into a topic at an appropriate place, or given as homework or extension.
- Treasure hunt
- Santa parade
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1. Treasure hunt
- This rich task asks students to create their own similar treasure hunt.
- Encourage students to create pathways that utilise many different directions and distances. More able students could use a more difficult scale, such as 150 m per square or use distances that involve fractions of squares.
2. Santa parade
- This task requires a systematic approach if all the ways are to be found.
Maps
- Know and use the main compass directions to describe position and give directions.
- Use simple scales on maps.
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Teacher notes
- Some students find it hard to work with scales if they can’t multiply.
- It is important to work with maps of the local area that students are familiar with so they get a better understanding of scale and distances in real life.
- Encourage students to find a way of remembering the order of the compass directions. They could make up a mnemonic like NEVER EAT SOGGY WEETBIX, or find another way and share it with the rest of the class.
- You could use Google Maps to talk about features such as the scale (which changes when you zoom in and out), which direction is North (up on the map) and how the direction changes in street view as you drive / turn around etc. Students could explore this themselves.
Coordinates
- Use a coordinate system to describe position.
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Teacher notes
- Remind students that the horizontal reference is always given first.
- Coordinates are further developed in book 3B, where games such as Battleships are introduced. There are many online versions
of Battleships. - You could reorganise the class seating plan and ask students to find their seats using coordinates you give them.
