Before launching this activity which will familiarize students with the cardinal points on a compass rose, label each wall of the classroom as North, South, East and West. Ask the class to use the labels or a compass to determine where particular items are in the room. For example, ask students in which direction the teacher's desk can be found, which wall the chalkboard is on, which direction do you travel to see the class pet? This activity will require students to orient themselves in relation to certain items and begin to identify the cardinal directions.
Expand students' directional experiences by walking outside of the classroom, away from the labeled walls. Walk toward the school office. Ask students to use the reference they remember in the classroom to determine which direction they are walking. Move toward other areas of the building or the playground. Continually discuss which direction each landmark is in relation to the classroom. When standing near the road, ask students to determine which direction the cars are driving. Some students may be able to determine which direction their home is in relation to the school.
A compass rose can likely be found on a set of desk maps for students to refer to, in an atlas or on the pull-down map in the classroom. Locate the compass rose and discuss the cardinal points. A student volunteer can be asked to find their home country. Ask for a volunteer to determine in which direction you would have to drive or fly to find a new country or landmark. Have students draw an arrow with an erasable marker on their desk map or class pull-down map to trace the direction one might travel. Circle the cardinal direction on the compass rose.
Engage elementary students in a new form of the game Simon Says. Instruct students that their waist represents the equator, their feet are the South Pole and the tip of their heads is the North Pole. With arms extended, their left hand represents the East and their right, the West. Play Compass Rose Simon Says by instructing students to various actions that will move them throughout their own compass rose using cardinal directions. For example, tell students "Simon says clap south of the equator," "Snap in the East" and "Tap the North Pole." Monitor the success of each student and help make corrections as needed.