Navigating by the stars

In this activity, students learn the cardinal points of the compass. They also learn how to use the Sun and star constellations – the Southern Cross and the Pointers – to identify the cardinal compass points.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

• recall the cardinal compass points

• explain how the compass points relate to the South and North Poles

• use the rising or setting Sun to determine east and west (and therefore north and south)

• locate the Southern Cross

• use the Southern Cross and the Pointers to locate the Southern Celestial Pole (SCP)

• use the Southern Cross to determine compass points and therefore direction.

Download the Word file (see link below) for:

• introduction/background notes

• what you need

• what to do

• student handout.