A homemade compass is such an easy geography project that gives a huge wow factor for kids of any age.
Too, the longer I homeschool, the more specific my list becomes of what my curriculum has to include, which is easy hands on activities for multiple ages of kids.
That is one reason I jumped at the chance of using North Star Geography because of simple activities like making a home made compass.
I don’t care how many times we do this simple hands on project, both of my boys like it. What I like about the activities too in North Star Geography is that Mr. Awesome and Tiny can gather the supplies and do this on their own.
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All they needed me from me is to take their picture to remind them to write down what they learned.
A simple list of items to do this easy geography activity includes:
- a lid or bowl of some sort with water in it.
- a needle, straight pin or paper clip
- something that will float like a cork or a leaf
- the much needed magnet
The key is rubbing the paperclip against the magnet to magnetize it and then placing it on the leaf to see it rotate north/south.
The boys already know which direction our house is facing or north/south though it would be helpful for younger kids to place a compass beside them. We didn’t include one because the boys thought they were too old for that didn’t need one.
After a few minutes the homemade contraption finds it ways to a north/south position.
Geography doesn’t have to be over the top even for your middle and high school students. Keep on providing opportunities for them to add in hands-on activities through to high school. And of course I am loving the fact that North Star Geography gives me the chance to be hands off as the educator by providing simple ideas that my boys can do on their own. Do we really need one more curriculum that requires intensive teacher prep?
Hugs and love ya,
Did you miss my other posts about North Star Geography? There are only about 4 of us homeschool bloggers that were given the BRAND SPANKING new geography program to review. Just saying, we are loving it.
Add these other geography activities to your lesson plan!
[…] Homemade Compass: A Simple Geography Project with a Wow Factor […]