2nd Grade The Compass Lesson Plan

Topic: The Compass

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to understand the purpose of a compass and how it works.

Materials

• Compasses
• Pieces of paper
• Markers or crayons

Warm-up

• Show the students a compass and ask them what they think it is used for.
• Ask the students if they have ever been camping or hiking before and if they have used a compass to find their way.

Direct Instruction

• Explain to the students that a compass is a device that helps us find our way by pointing to the north.
• Show the students how to use a compass by demonstrating how to hold it and turn the dial to find the north arrow.
• Explain that a compass can be used to help us find our way when we are outdoors and lost.

Guided Practice

• Pass out the compass kits to the students and have them work in pairs to practice using the compass.
• Have the students take turns holding the compass and guiding their partner to the north using the compass.

Independent Practice

• Have the students work in groups to create a map of their classroom.
• Have each group member use a compass to draw a line from their position to the north on their map.
• Have the students present their maps to the class and explain how their maps show them the layout of the classroom.

Closure

• Review the key points of the lesson, including the eight cardinal directions and how to use a compass to find the direction of north.
• Ask the students to share one thing they learned about compasses during the lesson.

Assessment

• Observe the students during the independent practice to assess their understanding of the material.
• Collect and review their drawn maps and written descriptions of their neighborhood for understanding of the material.