A compass is fun to work with children. But then there are also questions such as ‘how does a compass work’ or why it does what it does. We will answer those questions here.best places to hike in the midwest with some ideas about what you can do with a compass with children.
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What is a compass?
If you are looking for the road, hike in the midwest we now simply use Google Maps on our phone or possibly the route planner in the car. But those handy devices haven’t been around that long at all. Before these existed, maps or road maps were used. But in the middle of a forest or at sea, that is of little use to you. A compass is an old-fashioned tool to find your way. best places to hike in the midwest on the basis of the compass, people used to know where to sail, for example. Of course, you had to know whether you should go north or south. Maps were useful for that.
How does a compass work?
A compass works with a needle that will always point north. best places to hike in the midwest this needle can therefore move freely. If you turn around with the compass in your hands, the needle will point the other way. After all, he keeps pointing north. The compass rose, in which the needle is located, is divided into 4 cardinal points. best places to hike in the midwest North, East, South, and West. These are all on a quarter of the circle. Or better said: East is at 90 degrees. South at 180, West at 270, and North at 0 or 360 degrees (that is the same). The needle continues to point north because of the magnetic action of the north.
How to use a compass?
You hold the compass by placing it on your flat hand. Do you use a map to find your way? Place the map somewhere flat and then put the compass on it. If you want to know where the north is, you can do this by turning the compass slowly. If the needle rises above 0 (or 360) degree point, your compass is pointing in the right direction. You can then see which direction you are looking or going to, for example.
Difference between geographic north and magnetic north
Now, this actually sounds pretty simple… only there is a catch. On a map, all longitudes come together in the north. So the north is the top piece on the map. And each card will be composed in this way. Only: that’s not exactly the north of your compass! This points to the slope of the magnetic field that runs around the earth. Unfortunately, this is just not the same as the north of our maps. Depending on where you are, this can make a difference of about 20 degrees. For that reason, you will have to correct it. Especially if you are going to work over a longer distance with a compass. The difference will then take on larger and larger forms. You can search the internet for what you have to take into account in the area where you are.
If you want to know more about the operation of the compass and how you deal with the declination (difference between the geographical north and the magnetic north) then you can find the map and compass course on the internet, which goes into this in great detail!
What can you do with a compass?
Trying to find your way while in the middle of a nature reserve is of course exciting and a lot of fun to do. Actually, this offers much more adventure than finding your way with a phone and Google as a guide. If the children are a bit older, you can put them to work yourself. For a party you can also drop them in different places (with an adult present …) and then see who is back the fastest. Choose an area where there are no other starting points such as signage. Only the adult has his phone with him so that there is no secret smuggling. But help can be called in if necessary (after all, you can get hopelessly lost …). You can think of a large dune area or, for example, in the woods.
Magnetic science
Another thing you could do that requires a compass is to get started with the operation of magnets. Provide multiple types of magnets, which also vary in strength. And so for a well-functioning compass. You can then explain how a magnet works and where it is used, among other things. Here you can address the necessary activities as ‘conversation material.
What is magnetism?
The magnetic field
Electromagnetism
Bumping and repulsing by the poles
How does a compass work
Letting the appeal continue
Other forms of attraction, such as the moon on the water on Earth
You can also turn this topic into a fun game. Make sure you have a stronger magnet and hang small objects on it. Pins, for example, or hair clips. Look at how strong this magnet is. The stronger it is, the more you can hang together! Who can adhere to it the most?
Create compass
Did you know that you can also make a compass yourself? For this, you need a bowl, water, a needle, a cork or a leaf, and a piece of metal!
Buy compass
Buying a children’s compass is of course easy to do online, for example here. best crampons for hiking the advantage of a children’s compass is that there are often extras that make it more interesting for children. For example, there may be a navigation guide or the compass is just more fun to see. Extras that make ‘going on an adventure’ extra fun can also be included. Or you can buy it yourself. For example, you can also think of a magnifying glass or binoculars.
Note: If you really want to work with a compass, it is best to buy a good compass and not a cheap one made of plastic that you can throw in the trash after 1x use. For example, a good compass is equipped with a neck cord so that you can hang it around your neck, and a mirror so that you can hold it in front of your face to properly gauge the right direction. You also have a card compass that you can put on a map and are provided with a centimeter to be able to calculate the distance.
