Compass Square-Off


Purpose: To practice following a bearing, To make geometric shapes more concrete, To practice mental math
Materials: Compass, paper plates, string, meter stick or yardstick
TEKS: 4.1A    4.4A,B    5.1A      5.1A,B
Background information: It would be very helpful to practice following a bearing (Lost and Found--Third Grade Miller Springs Curriculum) before trying this activity
Procedure:
  1. Review parts of a compass and steps for following a bearing.
  2. Review characteristics of a square.
  3. Select a degree direction and follow it for a designated distance, add 90 to the first degree direction and follow it for the same number of paces.
  4. Repeat this two more times adding 90 for each new bearing.
  5. Use paper plates to mark the corners of the square.
  6. Students could try making other geometric shapes such as rectangles, equilateral triangles. (Add 120 to determine each new degree direction for equilateral triangles.)

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