Summer Compass

What You Need:

• Spray bottle
• Compass
• Sidewalk chalk
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Marker
• Local map

What You Do:

1. Have your child dampen the sidewalk or drive with a spray bottle. This will help the chalk marks stay in place.
2. Encourage your child to use the compass to find north, south, east and west. With the sidewalk chalk, draw a compass showing all four directions. Explain that this is one way of telling people where things are.
3. On a local map, assist your child in locating several places she'll be going this summer. Using the map's direction arrow, show them how to tell which direction each place is from your home.
4. Cut out construction paper arrows. On each arrow, write a place that you'll be going this summer. Possibilities include the swimming pool, park, camp, tennis lessons, Uncle Bill’s house, and more. On the back of each arrow, write how far away this location is and how long it will take to get there (2 miles for the pool, 10 minutes; 14 miles to Aunt Kate’s, 40 minutes, etc.).
5. When you get ready to go to one of these places, give your child the arrow. Can they place it on the compass, pointing in the correct direction?
6. If necessary, correct the placement of the arrow, and then move on to the second part of the challenge. How long is the trip? On the way, discuss things that affect how long it takes to get somewhere: distance, traffic, types of roads, means of travel, etc.
7. Lastly, help your child get a feel for the world they're moving through and challenge them to stump you when it comes to finding new locations.