Activity 1:

We have numerous ways and perspectives of looking at things. We are concerned specifically with two: frontal and aerial. Take a close look at your building or school. Stand in front of the building, and draw a pictureof it. Now, pretend that you're in a helicopter looking down at the same building. What do you see? Draw a picture of the same building from this new, aerial perspective. How is this view different than the first? How is it similar? Compare and contrast the two views or perspectives.

Activity 2:

Birds fly south for the winter, and back north for the summer. Let's identify the cardinal directions: north, south, east, west, and record them on a compass rose. Use the Sun as a reference. Where does the Sun set? (west) Where does the Sun rise? (East) Identify where north is from where your standing. On the floor mark a route/path with tape, or outside, with chalk. Make sure your route has straight lines, and makes ninety degree angles as it turns. Blindfold a partner and give him/her directions to walk along the predetermined path. Be sure to use cardinal directions when instructing your partner. Try different routes. You may also want to try using intermediate directions, too.

Activity 3:

Are you ready to see some spy photos? Well, they're actually satellite photos, but first things, first. Go online, and go to the Map Quest web site, http://www.mapquest.com. Type in your address , or your school's, city, state, and zip code, and click map it. A map of your neighborhood will appear. You may want to click Big Map. Identify the cardinal directions on the map. The red star will be the address that you typed in. Locate landmarks in your neighborhood, such as, a park, a supermarket, or your school. You will want to click Aerial View for help. Determine the cardinal or intermediate direction of the landmarks in relation to your address. What direction would you give to someone who wanted to go to them? If you can, print the map. Choose different colored pencils and draw routes to various landmarks in your neighborhood. Make a legend to identify what landmarks the colors represent. Try other addresses!!!

Activity 4:

Do you like scavenger hunts? Have you ever made your own? You can play this game in a park, at home, or in school, but the first thing you will need is a compass. In your group, somebody will be in charge of making the scavenger hunt, the others will do the looking. Pick a starting point for your scavenger hunt. Use your compass to write down directions for whatever you might be looking for. You will also want to count steps, ie. go six steps north, go ten steps east.... After these directions have been written out (and tested), give them to a friend to try. Try using intermediate directions as well.