Lesson 4 - Point to Point Orienteering
Map Reading Foundations and Team Navigation Adventures
•Year 3
•Outdoor Adventurous Activities
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How can we work as an effective team to navigate from point to point using a map?
Learning Objectives
- To orientate a map correctly and follow a route to locate points in sequence
- To develop teamwork skills when navigating as a pair
- To understand and apply compass directions in a practical setting
Key Outcomes
- Students will successfully orientate a map and navigate to multiple points
- Students will demonstrate effective teamwork and communication during orienteering challenges
- Students will show understanding of compass directions and map features
Equipment & Resources Required
Laminated for weather protection, stored in central location
Alternative: School site plans with added orienteering points
Numbered 1-12, positioned at key features around site
Alternative: Coloured cones with numbers, laminated signs
For recording points found and route planning
Alternative: Hard-backed notebooks
Attached to clipboards with string
Alternative: Waterproof pens
For safety signals and time management
Alternative: Bell or voice commands
For timing challenges and course completion
Alternative: Phone timer
Key Vocabulary
To position a map so that it aligns with the real landscape around you
A navigation method where you visit specific locations in a set order
The direction from one point to another using compass points
The specific route and order of points to visit during orienteering
The skill of finding your way from one place to another using a map
Areas that are not safe or allowed for the orienteering activity
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Understanding of basic compass directions (N, S, E, W)
- Experience of following simple maps
- Basic understanding of teamwork and cooperation
Current Skills
- Map orientation techniques
- Point-to-point navigation strategies
- Advanced compass directions (NE, NW, SE, SW, NNE, NNW, SSE, SSW)
- Effective team communication during navigation
Next Steps
- Complex orienteering courses with elevation changes
- Time-based orienteering challenges
- Leading orienteering activities for younger students
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Map orientation is the foundation of successful navigation - north arrow must point to real north
- Effective partnerships require both students to contribute to navigation decisions and route planning
- Planning the route before moving prevents getting lost and builds confidence
- Following the correct sequence of points teaches systematic approach to navigation
- Staying within boundaries ensures safety and teaches respect for rules and limits
- Team communication and support leads to better navigation outcomes than individual effort
- Resilience when facing navigation challenges develops problem-solving and perseverance skills
Common Misconceptions
- Students think they can navigate without orientating the map - demonstrate why this leads to errors
- Belief that running faster will lead to finding more points - emphasise planning over speed
- Assumption that following other pairs is a good strategy - explain why independent navigation builds skills
- Thinking that getting lost means failure - reframe as learning opportunity and problem-solving practice
- Misconception that one person should lead all navigation - highlight benefits of shared decision-making
- Belief that orienteering is only about map reading - connect to teamwork, communication and character development
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter navigation segments, clear boundaries with visual markers, regular check-ins and refocusing, movement breaks between activities
dyspraxia
- Simplified maps with fewer details, larger orienteering markers, extra time for navigation tasks, step-by-step navigation prompts
autism spectrum
- Clear visual schedule of lesson stages, quiet spaces available for breaks, predictable routines and structure, reduced sensory stimulation options
visual impairment
- Large print maps with bold markings, tactile markers at orienteering points, audio description of map features, buddy system with sighted partner
hearing impairment
- Visual signals for instructions, written course cards, clear hand signals for communication, visual timer for time management
physical disability
- Modified shorter courses, wheelchair accessible routes, seated map reading activities, adapted equipment for different mobility needs
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Compass bearings and angles, measuring distances on maps, scale and proportion, time management and counting
Science
Magnetic north and compass use, forces and motion during navigation, problem-solving through scientific method
Geography
Map reading skills, compass directions, understanding symbols and keys, spatial awareness and location
PSHE
Teamwork and cooperation, leadership skills, resilience when facing challenges, responsibility for partner safety
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Central location with clear sightlines to all orienteering points, moving strategically to monitor different pairs
Observation Focus
Map orientation accuracy, partnership cooperation, navigation decision-making, safety compliance, engagement levels
Intervention Points
When pairs are struggling with map orientation, if safety boundaries are approached, during partnership conflicts, when students appear lost or confused
Demonstration Notes
Demonstrate: Always show map orientation dramatically with exaggerated movements, use clear pointing to show compass directions, model partnership discussion about route planning
Verbal Cues
- •'Remember to orientate your map first!'
- •'Work together - two heads are better than one!'
- •'Check your boundaries before you navigate!'
- •'Plan your route before you move!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large outdoor area minimum 50m x 50m with varied terrain and features for point placement
Surface Check
Even ground free from holes, wet areas, or dangerous obstacles that could cause slips or falls
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Maps checked for tears that could cause cuts
- •Orienteering markers securely positioned and visible
- •Clipboards without sharp edges or protruding clips
- •Pencils attached to prevent loss and potential hazards
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Students going out of designated bounds
- •Collisions during navigation between points
- •Getting lost or separated from partner
- •Trips and falls on uneven outdoor terrain
- •Excitement leading to unsafe running
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundary markers and repeated boundary reminders
- •Emphasis on staying with partner at all times
- •Teacher positioned for maximum visibility of navigation area
- •Regular counting and checking of student locations
- •Pre-activity check of terrain for hazards
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Central position allowing 360-degree visibility
- •Regular movement to monitor distant navigation activities
- •Clear whistle signals for emergency stops
- •Designated meeting points for regrouping
Emergency Procedures
Stop signal (whistle), immediate attendance to any injured student, contact school office if serious incident, clear evacuation route to school building