|
|
|
|
|
Get Oriented
Your Mission
Become a whiz at the cardinal directions—north, south, east, west—and match wits with the Orientometer. Briefing
If you're here, where's there? If you're there, where's here? This is starting to sound like a Dr. Seuss book, isn't it? That's why geographers developed a code for connecting here and there and everywhere. As with most things in life, the system starts with the sun. You may have noticed that it always "rises" and "sets" in the same places. (What's actually happening is that the Earth is rotating, but that's another story.) Sunrise happens in the east, so anytime you head toward a sunrise, you know you're going east. Sunset, in contrast, takes place in the west. Now let's add the other two directions. If you stand facing east and hold your left hand out, it will point north. Switch to your right hand, and you're pointing south. These four directions—the cardinal points—are the same every place on Earth, except the Poles. Austria is always north of Italy, and Egypt is always east of Libya. Ready to give it a try? Click your way into the Orientometer and see how you do. F A M I L Y - X F I L E S
Younger Xpeditioners: Make signs that say NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, and WEST. Ask an adult or older child to help you hang them in the right places in your room. Older Xpeditioners: Create a treasure hunt for your friends and family and give clues based on the cardinal points. Parents: If possible, you might want to borrow or buy a simple magnetic compass and teach your children to use it. Inexpensive compasses are available in most places that sell camping gear; the packages usually offer instructions. On car trips, you might enlist the kids to monitor which way you're heading and perhaps even help navigate. Search for the term "orienteering" on any Web search engine to find sites that explain the intricacies of compasses and navigation.
© 1998-2008 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved. |
Check out:
