Teaching orienteering in schools (from scratch)

[Domhnull Mor]

A friend in Australia (a school teacher) has asked for advice about how to teach orienteering to his 10-13 year old pupils. He himself doesn't have any experience of the sport (why I was asked). I've got hold of a few maps from other schools in Australia and can probably put together a decent enough map for his school based on the satellite imagery available but I guess a few cones on the sports pitch or in the gym with a simple line map is probably the best way to get started. Still, I haven't any experience at this basic level. Anyone with any ideas/suggestions/links for really basic activities to get a full class started, completely from scratch?

[SeanC]

Hopefully you'll get some good answers shortly, but it would probably help to know:

- How long has the teacher got to teach orienteering (eg is it a one off 1 hour lesson, or 6 X 1 hour, whole day etc)?
- What kind of ability level are they? Will they know what a map is etc?

[Big Jon]

I did some school introductory sessions several years ago. Simple procedure - ask kids about maps, explain them, get them to make a map of the classroom and draw a course on it - introduces idea of a map using symbols and spiders view of room (rather than bird's eye view).
Use cones exercises to get kids used to setting the map and turning themselves round the map - Cones are great - they can be used in small scale or else on a large scale (football pitch size) for more physical element. Kids love them and its really easy to spot those who are struggling and give them extra tuition. Get more advanced kids to help with weaker ones. Start with 3x4 colour coded (lines of equal colours) move to 4x4 or 5x5 with random colours (harder).
Then star courses (1 control out and back) on school ground map, then simple white courses.
Plenty to see them going for 5-6 sessions over several weeks.
Most important thing is to provide a link to local club and a way to grab those with interest/aptitude and keep them in the sport...

[Domhnull Mor]

The teacher (and pupils) know what a map is but the relative complexity of what he is familiar with makes it difficult to explain the basic principles. What Big Jon describes is the absolute basics that are needed. The aim would be to then build upon this and, potentially, link in with other subjects. Thanks for those suggestions. That's put a bit more meat on the bones of what I'd originally been thinking.

[Blonde bombshell]

Have you suggested that they look at the BSOA website?
There is quite a lot of information about teaching in schools (surprisingly!).
Click on the 'Teaching' tab & scroll down to resources.

[buzz]

You can't beat getting them to make a map and plan a course for their mates to try. You need a rough base map - perhaps start with the sports hall and a few mats etc. then progress to outside spaces. Works with small groups but not sure about a full class - perhaps pick the best maps/courses and photocopy them for everyone to have a go.

[Big Jon]

The teacher (and pupils) know what a map is but the relative complexity of what he is familiar with makes it difficult to explain the basic principles. What Big Jon describes is the absolute basics that are needed. The aim would be to then build upon this and, potentially, link in with other subjects. Thanks for those suggestions. That's put a bit more meat on the bones of what I'd originally been thinking.

let me have your e-mail address and I'll pass on a document linking O to many aspects of education.

[tomgood]

When teaching cricket you can spend time painstakingly teaching how to bat 'correctly' only to find when first learning, the most fun is had from whacking the ball as hard as you can and worrying about where it lands later.

I think the same can be true of orienteering. Set up a course, give them a map (the school grounds will be familiar to them and it won't take long to make sense of the map) and let them run. Worry about the fine art of map reading when you've captured their interest.

As you progress, courses can become more challenging and become more reliant on their developing map reading skills.

[andypat]

When teaching cricket you can spend time painstakingly teaching how to bat 'correctly' only to find when first learning, the most fun is had from whacking the ball as hard as you can and worrying about where it lands later.

I think the same can be true of orienteering. Set up a course, give them a map (the school grounds will be familiar to them and it won't take long to make sense of the map) and let them run. Worry about the fine art of map reading when you've captured their interest.

As you progress, courses can become more challenging and become more reliant on their developing map reading skills.

What a very sensible "big picture" perspective.