Gary Moskowitz
Finding your way around the outside courtyard and athletic field
area at Wilson Middle School is not that difficult.
Throw in a compass and some specific navigational directions, and
things can get complicated.
The 62 students enrolled in Wilson's sixth-grade pilot program
split into groups of five Tuesday for an exercise in listening to
directions, teamwork and how to properly use a compass.
"It only works right if you cooperate," said Adena Gharaptyan, 10.
Each group was asked to navigate through a list of directions and
was expected to move successfully from point A to point B. Directions
said things like "walk 20 feet north, 15 feet east and 20 feet
southwest," and students used a Trundle Wheel to help calibrate their
steps.
Each student was given a job, like direction pointer, walker and
compass user.
Sixth-grade teacher Mike Lichtman said the exercise is a fun way
to teach students about using a compass, and is also tied into state
standards in math and science. Students were asked to make their own
compasses by magnetizing a nail, sticking it through a piece of cork
and floating the nail in water.
"It reinforces things like times tables, but also forces them to
work with each other and cooperate," Lichtman said.
Wilson history teacher Kris Kohlmeier said the activity also ties
into his lessons on early explorers like Christopher Columbus, who
were able to travel by using navigation skills.
"We're giving the winning team gift certificates to Bas- kin
Robbins, which is a real incentive during summer," joked Kohlmeier.
Albert Sotelo, 11, said learning to use a compass was harder than
he thought it would be.
"It's difficult to use sometimes. It takes time to figure out
where to go, but you just have to balance yourself and be patient,"
Albert said.
