Here's a simple song that will help your students learn directions. It goes to the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."
Directions
The sun is rising in the East, (Face the front of the room and point right.)
uh huh, uh huh.
The sun is setting in the West, (Point left.)
uh huh, uh huh.
My nose is North, (Point forwards.)
My tail is South, (Point backwards.)
And so I turn myself around, (Turn around.)
And the sun keeps rising in the East (Point right and then swing arm over to the left.)
And setting in the West.
*Go out on the playground in the morning and find the direction where the sun is rising. Sing the song and point to the true directions.
*Play "Simon Says" as children point to the different directions. For example: Simon says point south. Simon says point west.
*Demonstrate how to use a compass.
*Explain how a compass rose is used all over the world to help orient people.
If you want to talk about Columbus Day (aka yesterday) here are a few thoughts I should have posted last week. Oh, well!
Columbus Day
(Tune: “Going Over, Going Under”)
Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 (March and salute.)
The Nina, and the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, too.
Going over going under in the Atlantic Ocean’s thunder,
(Make hands go up and down.)
What a brave thing to do! (Thumbs in to chest.)
When Columbus set sail he knew the earth was round.
(Make a circle with arms.)
He was amazed at all the lands and the people he found.
Going over, going under, in the Atlantic Ocean’s thunder,
(Make hands go up and down.)
What a brave thing to do! (Thumbs in to chest.)
Columbus visited Bahamas, Cuba, South America, too.
(Hold up fingers – 1, 2, 3.)
On October 12 we remember him and his crew. (Shake finger.)
Going over, going under, in the Atlantic Ocean’s thunder,
(Hands up and down.)
What a brave thing to do! (Thumbs in to chest.)
*You can download this book at drjean.org.
Sailor Hats
Make sailor hats out of newspaper. Fold in half. Bring corners down until they meet. Fold up top edge and then turn over and fold up the bottom edge. Let children decorate.
Globe
Point out where Columbus started in Spain and the islands he visited. How has travel changed since Columbus’s voyage over 500 years ago?
Sailor’s Chest
Make a sailor’s chest for each child out of construction paper similar to the one shown. Explain that every sailor had a chest (like a suitcase) that they used to pack everything they would need on a long journey. What would you pack in your chest? (Children could write items or draw pictures.)
Sail Away
Columbus didn’t have motors on his ships. What made them move? Have you ever seen a sailboat? Put a piece of paper on a table or on the floor. How can you make this paper move without touching it? Let the children practice blowing a sheet of paper across the floor. Divide the class into teams and have relay races to see who has the most “hot air.”
