General points on map and compass

How does the map work? Interactive exercises: [Snuitide.no, map data from norgeskart.no ](https://h5p.org/h5p/embed/1287767)

How does the map work? Interactive exercises: Snuitide.no, map data from norgeskart.no

1. What do the different colours on the map mean: green, blue, brown, black and white?
2. What do scale and contour interval mean?
   1. What is the most common scale and contour interval on a “Turkart” (touring map)?
3. What should the map show us?
4. What does it mean to orient the map?
5. Give examples of large handrails.
6. What is the job of the compass?
7. What is the best way to get good at map and compass?

Compass bearings

1. Describe how you take a compass bearing.
2. Take a compass bearing from Finse station to Larsbu. Read off how many degrees you get.
3. Take a compass bearing the opposite way; from Larsbu to Finse station. Read off how many degrees you get.
4. What is meant by “walking on a compass bearing”?
5. How do you walk on a compass bearing in practice?
6. When do you need to walk on a compass bearing?

Map basis: Statens kartverk, https://norgeskart.no/#!?project=norgeskart&layers=1004&zoom=13&lat=6797573.90&lon=132977.23&markerLat=6797573.899575911&markerLon=132977.22606438334&panel=searchOptionsPanel&showSelection=true&drawing=4ast-nkBjp_5Ew3WBMmM&p=searchOptionsPanel&sok=sulebu

Cross-bearing

1. What is a cross-bearing?
2. How is a cross-bearing carried out?
3. When do you need a cross-bearing?

Interactive exercises from NDLA

[What do you know about map and compass? Interactive exercises: Ragnhild Kjeldsen, Cathrine Dunker Furuly and Bjørn Erik Rolseth, NDLA, 2019, (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.h5p.ndla.no/s/resources/dedea821-31cc-4da1-87b9-6acc98bdd828)

What do you know about map and compass? Interactive exercises: Ragnhild Kjeldsen, Cathrine Dunker Furuly and Bjørn Erik Rolseth, NDLA, 2019, (CC BY-SA)

Practical exercises

1. Draw a map of the area around the school. Mark a spot on the map and place an object at the marked spot. Swap maps with a classmate, who is to find the object and bring it back to the school.
2. Finding a grid reference in practice
   • Work in pairs.
   • One pupil marks some points on the map, the other is to give the grid reference for the points.
     • Swap after a couple of goes.
   • Give a six-figure grid reference to a classmate. The classmate is then to find the point on the map.
     • Swap after a couple of goes.
   • The exercises can well be done outdoors, and you can also walk to the points.

• Practical session outdoors – orienteering

  This is what we need:

  • a day pack
  • food and drink for being outdoors half a day or a whole day (preferably a hot drink in a flask)
  • clothes and footwear to be outdoors in

  The teacher provides compasses and an orienteering map of the area.

  This is what we are going to do:

  1. We go through a little theory about map, compass and GPS indoors.
  2. We put on outdoor clothing, bring a map and compass (in pairs sharing one map and one compass) and head out. Work on the exercises in pairs, and the whole group should stay reasonably close together so the teacher can help those who need it along the way.
  3. We go over the names of the different parts of the compass again.
  4. Look at the map you have been given. Work out where you are on the map, the scale, the contour interval and these map symbols near you: ◦ building ◦ road ◦ deciduous woodland ◦ coniferous forest ◦ bog ◦ water ◦ steep crag ◦ gentle slope ◦ cultivated land
  5. Find the same places in the terrain, take a photo of them, return to the agreed meeting place and show them to the teacher.
  6. Take a compass bearing from the meeting place (where the class is gathered) to: ◦ the nearest road junction, and from there to ◦ the nearest spot that lies 20 metres higher than this road junction, and from there to ◦ the nearest building, and from there ◦ back to the meeting place
  7. We work out what we can use as a sighting point and catching features in each of these compass legs.
  8. You are to find a place where we can light a campfire and eat our packed lunch, and you use map and compass to find a good route there. In pairs, draw up a proposal for where we should go, and present it to the rest of the class (outdoors).
  9. You are to explain why you would choose exactly this place and exactly this route.
  10. We agree on one place and one route to get there.
  11. We use map and compass to get to this place. Work in pairs.

  After this session you should be able to:

  • explain how you can find the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west) out in nature without using a compass
  • explain why it is useful to be able to use map and compass
  • explain what the scale on a map tells us, and work out the distance in reality when you have a map with a known scale
  • explain what a contour line and contour interval are
  • explain these words: map contact, sighting point and catching features
  • read map symbols on the orienteering map, and find these both on the map and in the terrain: building, road, path, forest, bog, water, steep crag, gentle slope facing west, cultivated land
  • point to these parts of a compass: direction-of-travel arrow, ruler, north arrow (or the “bed”), compass needle and compass housing
  • take a compass bearing from one place to another
  • explain where north is on the map, and orient the map to north
  • explain what can cause the compass to show the wrong direction

  Assessment:

  Download: First session with map and compass. Self-assessment form.

  2016_egenvurdering_forste_okt_kart.docx

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  Text: Tone Olavsdotter Mosebø (2017), NDLA (CC BY-SA)

NB! Further practical exercises can be found under: Teaching orienteering

Take DNT’s course “lær kart og kompass”

Next steps

• Navigation — the hub
• Navigating by nature’s signs — reading the landscape
• GPS — a modern addition
• Navigation in the winter mountains — winter-specific

Learn more

• Kartverket — map basis and symbols
• Norgeskart — interactive map
• Norges Orienteringsforbund — sport and courses
• UT.no — route data