Grade 6+: Six Progressive Lessons
These lessons are ready to teach. Designed for grades 6 and up (ages 11+), they move quickly from introductory activities to independent navigation with orienteering maps. Students at this level are ready for strategic thinking, competition, and self-directed navigation.
| Lesson | Theme | Key Activities | Concepts Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. From Clues to Maps | Quick intro, then maps | Animal-O (quick), Geometric-O | Following a sequence, Confirming, Map as picture, Orienting, Pattern matching |
| 2. Map Reading | Symbols, colors, thumbing | Map Walk, Symbol-O, Symbol Relay | Basic symbols, Legend, Colors, Tracking position |
| 3. Route Choice | Plan and choose your route | Score-O, Poison-O | Route choice, Planning under time pressure |
| 4. From Ground to Map | From terrain back to map | Reverse Score-O (mark on map where checkpoints are) | Map-terrain connection (bidirectional), Spatial relations, Distance |
| 5. Course Navigation | Point-to-point courses | Point-to-Point, course review and debrief | Handrails, Attack points, Debrief |
| 6. Race Day | Competition and independence | Relay Race, finish chute | Independence, Managing pressure, Choosing challenge |
These lessons cover entries 6-21 (Sequential Navigation through Score-O) of the Navigation Games skill and concept sequence, with emphasis on 16-20 (Navigation with Maps). Communication (#36-41) and Individual Development (#42-45) are woven throughout, especially debrief and self-assessment. Compass skills (#22-25) can be added as extensions or in follow-up sessions.
Notes for 6+
- Pacing adjustments: Plan for six class periods, one per lesson. Lesson 1 covers material that takes K-2 students several weeks. The pace is fast because older students can handle multiple concepts in a single session.
- Class length: Lessons are written for a typical 30-45 minute period. With a longer period, add courses and extensions rather than jumping ahead. The lesson plan advisor can tailor the progression to your schedule, space, and students.
- Skip the basics if appropriate: Boundary Run and Gathering can be done as a 5-minute warm-up in Lesson 1 rather than their own sessions. Most 6+ students already understand boundaries and signals. If students are new to orienteering, spend more time on Lesson 1.
- Animal-O is brief: Use Animal-O only long enough to introduce the clue sheet format and checkpoint confirmation. Move to Geometric-O within the same lesson.
- Reverse Score-O (Lesson 4): Students receive a blank map with only landmarks, navigate to find checkpoints in the terrain, and mark where they are on the map. This reverses the usual direction (map tells you where to go) and deepens the map-terrain connection. See the Related Activities tab on the Score-O page.
- Debrief is key: At this age, post-course discussion matters. After Lesson 5, have students compare route choices in pairs: "Where did you go? Why? What would you do differently?" This is concept #41 in the skill sequence.
- Competition and timing: Older students often want to race. Individual timing is appropriate here, but keep emphasizing accuracy over speed. Electronic timing (SI equipment) adds engagement without changing the teaching approach.
- Compass: Cardinal directions and compass orientation can be introduced as extensions in Lessons 2-4. If time allows, a compass-focused lesson can follow this progression.
Activities Referenced
| Activity | First Appears | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Animal-O | Lesson 1 | Find animal checkpoints using clue sheets (brief intro) |
| Geometric-O | Lesson 1 | Use a simple map to find checkpoints |
| Map Walk | Lesson 2 | Walk a route matching map symbols to real-world features |
| Symbol-O | Lesson 2 | Learn orienteering map symbols by finding features |
| Score-O | Lesson 3 | Visit as many checkpoints as possible in any order |
| Poison-O | Lesson 3 | Score-O where wrong checkpoints lose points |
| Reverse Score-O | Lesson 4 | Find checkpoints and mark their locations on the map (on the Score-O page) |
| Point-to-Point | Lesson 5 | Navigate a course visiting checkpoints in order using a map |
| Relay Race | Lesson 6 | Teams compete in relay format (on the Point-to-Point page) |
Open Questions
- Compass integration: Should compass skills be a 7th lesson, or woven into Lessons 2-4 as extensions?
- Checking without electronics: All lesson plans should work without electronic timing. Teachers need ways to verify students visit checkpoints in the right order, have students check each other, and teach self-checking. A dedicated page on this topic is planned.