Mariners' Museum and Park
Mariners' Museum: The Ages of Exploration: Medieval
Looks at a few of the key navigational tools and significant individuals during the medieval period of exploration.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Classroom Triangles
In this activity, students will use bearing measurements to triangulate and determine objects' locations. Working in teams of two or three, students must put on their investigative hats as they take bearing measurements to specified...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Topo Triangulation
In this activity, students will learn how to read a topographical map and how to triangulate with just a map. True triangulation requires both a map and compass, but to simplify the activity and make it possible indoors, the compass...
Mariners' Museum and Park
Mariners' Museum: Age of Exploration: Tools of Navigation
Sailors improved on many of the tools used in navigation to help them in their long journeys across an ocean. On this site from the Mariners' Museum, find many of these tools, perhaps in use already in the 15th century, but made even...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Renaissance: Exploration and Trade
Detailed introduction on exploration and trade during the Renaissance. Provides an overview of the tools created during the Middle Ages that made such travels by sea possible as well as insight into the types of goods traders sought in...
Cut the Knot
Cut the Knot!: Geometric Construction With the Compass Alone
This site explains the possible uses of a compass when drawing. There are numerous exercises for using a compass with links to the solutions - click on the red checkmarks for these. The site discusses mathematicians who contributed to...
Other
Boat Safe Kids
This is a delightful site about boats and boating. Lots of games plus a terrific overview of the history of navigation. Includes a visit to a reproduction of Columbus' Nina.
Utah State Office of Education
Utah Science: Magnetized
A unit all about magnets! Explore magnetic forces, types of magnets, and more through these informative activities.
E-learning for Kids
E Learning for Kids: Science: Antarctica: What Is Position and Reference Point?
With all the snow and ice in Antarctica, it's easy to get lost. Help Tim find his way using a map and a compass.
E-learning for Kids
E Learning for Kids: Science: Italy: How Are Magnets Made?
Paolo works in a Pizzeria. He is trying to make his own magnets. Join him and help him learn.
Rice University
Galileo Project: Francois Viete
This site from The Galileo Project of Rice University provides a brief overview of Francois Viete, displayed as ten biographical topics. The fields of data collected include topics such as birth/death dates, father, nationality,...
NC State University
North Carolina St Univ/oersted's Effect
Wonderful. You want video of what Hans Christian did 300 years ago? Here it is, quick, easy to show. You have to have Windows Media or equivalent. Nice job. Just the demo, nothing else.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Traditional Compass Construction: Angle Bisector Using Cabri
Use Cabri Jr. and the Compass command to complete the actual construction - pencil, paper, and compass process.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Traditional Copy an Angle: Compass Construction Using Cabri
Use Cabri Jr to copy an angle. The activity is followed by a student-to-student interview/reflection sheet intended to require students to think, talk, and write about why the construction worked. The reflection sheet could be adapted...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Magnets and Electricity: Creating Magnetism With Electricity
Students will work in small groups to design at least one complete circuit using multiple materials. They will record their observations of how they created an electrical circuit using diagrams and notes in their journals. Using a...
Online Learning Haven
Finding Your Way: How to Read a Compass
A great explanation on what a compass is and how to read one. After the explanation, a step-by-step guide to drawing your own compass is given.
US Geological Survey
Usgs: Finding Your Way With Map and Compass
This resource has a topographic map that tells you where things are and how to get to them. Use this site to help you use a map and compass to determine your location.
Other
Learn Orienteering: How to Use a Compass
This site is an easy-to-follow guide on how to use a compass.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background Information for Magnets
What makes a magnet? Learn all about magnets in this Q&A section. Educator resource materials are linked to this site.
Other
National Maritime Museum: Sea and Ships: The Magnetic Compass
Inquiry into the origins of the magnetic compass and how it came to and was used in Europe.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Early Chinese Compass 400 Bc
The first compass was used not to point people in the right direction literally, but figuratively.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Make a Compass
Learn how to make a simple compass right at home. [1 min, 21 secs]
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Circles of Magnetism
Create a magnetic field that is stronger than Earth so a compass needle will orient itself to the new field in this activity.