Lesson 6 - Orienteering Competition
Strategic Navigation and Collaborative Orienteering
•Year 5
•Outdoor Adventurous Activities
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
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How can we work as an effective team to navigate successfully under competitive pressure?
Learning Objectives
- To apply orienteering skills in a competitive team format
- To demonstrate effective teamwork and communication during navigation challenges
- To evaluate and improve performance through strategic planning and reflection
Key Outcomes
- Students will successfully navigate an orienteering course as a team within allocated time
- Students will demonstrate leadership, cooperation and responsibility during competition
- Students will plan effective routes and manage time efficiently
Equipment & Resources Required
Maps should show all control points clearly marked with numbers
Alternative: Hand-drawn maps of school grounds with marked control points
Position markers at strategic locations around designated area
Alternative: Coloured cones, laminated signs, or flags
Ensure all timing devices are synchronised before start
Alternative: Smartphone timers or one central timing system
Attach pencils to clipboards to prevent loss during activity
Alternative: Hard-backed notebooks or folded cardboard
Include spaces for control point numbers and arrival times
Alternative: Notebook pages or pre-printed forms
Check all compasses are working correctly before distribution
Alternative: Smartphone compass apps if devices available
Attach to clipboards or recording sheets with string
Alternative: Waterproof pens for outdoor conditions
Use for emergency signals and time calls during competition
Alternative: Voice commands or hand signals
Key Vocabulary
A sport involving navigation between control points using a map and compass
Specific locations marked on the course that teams must find and visit
Deciding the order and path to visit control points most efficiently
Allocating time effectively to complete all tasks within the deadline
Making strategic decisions to gain competitive advantage
Direction of travel measured in degrees from north
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic map reading and symbol recognition
- Orientating maps using compass and landscape features
- Working in pairs to locate orienteering points
- Understanding of teamwork and communication
Current Skills
- Competitive orienteering under time pressure
- Strategic route planning and time management
- Leadership and team coordination during challenges
- Performance evaluation and tactical improvement
Next Steps
- Multi-day orienteering challenges
- Teaching orienteering skills to younger students
- Cross-country navigation using advanced techniques
- Leading outdoor adventure activities
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Effective teamwork requires clear communication and shared decision-making throughout the competition
- Strategic route planning considering time, distance and terrain is more important than visiting every control point
- Map orientation using compass is essential before beginning navigation to any control point
- Time management and tactical awareness are crucial skills that transfer beyond orienteering
- Supporting your partner and maintaining positive team spirit leads to better performance than individual focus
- Learning from mistakes and adapting plans during competition demonstrates resilience and problem-solving
- Celebrating effort and improvement is as important as recognising winning performance
Common Misconceptions
- Students think control points must be visited in numerical order - emphasise strategic route choice
- Believing that speed is more important than accuracy - stress careful navigation and teamwork
- Assuming one person should lead all the time - promote shared leadership and decision-making
- Thinking that getting lost means failure - frame as learning opportunity requiring problem-solving
- Focusing only on winning rather than personal improvement and team development
- Believing orienteering is only about physical fitness - emphasise mental skills and strategic thinking
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Break competition into shorter segments with regular check-ins, use immediate feedback and praise, provide movement breaks as needed
dyspraxia
- Use simplified maps with fewer control points, allow extra time for navigation, provide partner support for equipment management
autism spectrum
- Provide clear competition structure and timing, use visual schedule of activities, allow practice runs before main competition
visual impairment
- Use high-contrast maps with bold symbols, provide tactile markers at control points, pair with sighted partner for navigation support
hearing impairment
- Use visual time signals and hand signals, provide written instructions on clipboards, ensure clear sight lines for communication
physical disability
- Modify routes for wheelchair access, provide alternative transport between control points, focus on strategic planning role
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Calculating penalties and scores, measuring distances and bearings, timing and time management, spatial reasoning with maps
Science
Forces and motion during movement, understanding magnetic north and compass function, weather awareness and safety
Geography
Using maps and symbols, understanding scale and direction, recognising landscape features, compass bearings and navigation
PSHE
Leadership skills, responsibility for others, resilience under pressure, celebrating diversity of strengths
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around perimeter of area to maintain visual contact with all pairs, positioning at elevated points when possible
Observation Focus
Watch for effective partnership communication, safe navigation practices, and time management skills
Intervention Points
Step in if pairs become separated, safety concerns arise, or students show signs of distress
Demonstration Notes
Show map orientation clearly, model effective partner communication, demonstrate route planning thought processes
Verbal Cues
- •'Remember to orientate your map!'
- •'Stay together as a team!'
- •'Check your time and make smart decisions!'
- •'Help each other navigate safely!'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large outdoor area minimum 100m x 100m, clearly defined boundaries with visible markers
Surface Check
Check ground for holes, obstacles, slippery areas, and ensure boundaries are safe
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Ensure all compasses are working correctly and safely attached
- •Check control point markers are securely positioned and visible
- •Verify clipboards have no sharp edges or broken parts
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Students becoming lost or separated from partners
- •Trips and falls on uneven outdoor terrain
- •Collisions between pairs moving quickly across area
- •Weather-related risks if conditions deteriorate
Risk Mitigation
- •Clear boundary markers and emergency whistle signals established
- •Pairs must stay together at all times during competition
- •Staff positioned strategically around area for supervision
- •Regular time calls to maintain awareness of student locations
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position at vantage points to observe maximum area coverage
- •Move around perimeter to maintain visual contact with all pairs
- •Have emergency contact procedures readily available
Emergency Procedures
Three whistle blasts = stop immediately and return to base. Staff member accompanies any injured student while other staff maintain supervision of remaining groups