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 driveway with a spray bottle. This will help the chalk marks stay in place.
2. Encourage your child to use the compass to find north, east, south, and west. With the sidewalk chalk, draw an accurate compass rose showing all four directions. Explain that a compass rose is one method people use to orient themselves and remember where things are located.
3. Use a local map to assist your child in locating several places they will be going this summer. Using the map's direction arrow, show your child how to tell which direction each of these places 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, a relative's home, and more. On the back of each arrow, write how far away this location is from your home, along with how long it will take to get there. (E.g., 2 miles to the pool, 10 minutes; 14 miles to Aunt Kate’s, 40 minutes, and so on.)
5. Before heading to one of your chosen destinations, give your child the arrow. Can they position it on the compass so that it points in the correct direction? 
6. Next, ask your child to estimate how long the trip will take based on the arrow. Once en route, discuss with your child the factors that can impact how long it takes to get somewhere: distance, mode of transportation, traffic, road type, and so on. 
7. Help your child get a feel for the world they're moving through! Challenge them to stump you when it comes to finding new locations.