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Physical Education

Simple Orienteering

Overview

Students follow a hand-drawn map to find hidden checkpoints around the school area as quickly as possible.

Learning Objective
Students navigate between checkpoints using a simple hand-drawn map of the school grounds.

Resources needed

  • Hand-drawn map of the area
  • Numbered marker stones or sticks at checkpoints
  • Pencil to record findings

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Before the lesson: place numbered stones at 6–8 locations around the school.
  2. 2 Draw a simple map showing these locations — rough shapes, no scale needed.
  3. 3 Pairs receive the map and must find all checkpoints in order.
  4. 4 At each checkpoint, they note a letter or word written on the stone.
  5. 5 First pair back with all checkpoints correctly recorded wins.
  6. 6 Debrief: which checkpoint was hardest to find? Why?
  7. 7 Pairs create their own simple map for others to follow.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Score orienteering — visit as many as possible in 10 minutes.
  • Checkpoints can be visited in any order.
  • Add a simple task at each checkpoint (5 jumps, write your name).
More information

Teach: map, checkpoint, north, find, location, route. Walk the course once together before releasing pairs independently.

Reduce to 4 checkpoints in a smaller area. Pairs with a stronger reader can support less confident partners.

Can students orient the map to match the real environment? Are they moving purposefully or searching randomly?

Hand-draw the map on any paper. Mark checkpoints with numbered stones or sticks. No printed maps or electronic devices needed.

Students run fast without checking the map. Teach them to stop, check the map, decide the route, then move — not the other way around.

Orienteering combines physical fitness with cognitive navigation skills. It develops independence, spatial thinking, and map literacy.

Activity details
Primary Challenging 30 minutes 15 minutes prep Pairs, Small Group Outdoor
Topics
Orienteering Map Reading Navigation