Build A Compass Activity

Build a Compass

A compass is a navigation tool that shows direction (north, south, east, or west). They have been used for many years by people trying to find their way. In this activity, you will get to make a compass and explore why they need magnets to work.

Activity Type:

Hands on activity, experiment

Suggested Age:

6 to 9 years old

What you need:

• Sewing needle

• Small bar magnet

• Piece of cork or Styrofoam disk

• Bowl of water

• Nail polish

• Tape

What you do:

• Paint one end of the needle with a dab of nail polish.

• Run the south pole of a magnet over the needle from the unmarked end to the marked end about 50 times. Be sure to lift the magnet each time and always move in the same direction. This action magnetizes the needle.

• Put the needle on the Styrofoam disk or small piece of cork. Add a small piece of tape to secure it. Or stick the needle through the Styrofoam.

• Float the Styrofoam disk in a bowl of water.

• Watch what is happening to your compass. The needle should come to point towards the nearest magnetic pole — north or south as the case may be.

• Test this by using a compass. Don’t have a compass? Use the app on your mobile device.

Explanation:

The earth produces a magnetic field. This field, although weak, is sufficient to align iron and other paramagnetic compounds that are within the sewing needle. By floating the needle on the cork, it floats freely, and can orient itself within the Earth’s magnetic field, to point toward the north or south poles of the planet.

History:

During the medieval period, most people navigated using the sky, by the stars, moon, and sun. The introduction of the compass was based on this simple floating compass. As improvements were made in navigation such as Portolan charts, people were better able to navigate, even when the sky was cloudy. This allowed for more travel, especially sea travel, during all seasons.

Taking it further:

Why did the magnet have that effect on the pin? Think about early forms of navigation such as this compass. Do you think it would be difficult to find your way?

Do you have a GPS? Go for a walk using the GPS to navigate your walk. What are the benefit of GPS technology compared to a compass?

Create Your Very Own Great Horned Owl

Create Your Very Own Great Horned Owl

Using simple supplies found around your home, create Great Horned Owl hand puppets.

What You Need:

• Size 10 envelopes (letter size)

• Markers

• Googly eyes or buttons

• Coloured paper

• Glue or tape

• Scissors

• Paint

• Paint brushes

• Yarn, string, or feathers to make the “horns” of the owl

What You Do:

1. Seal your envelope shut and then cut the envelope in half. Each half of the envelope will become one puppet. The open part will be where your hand goes.

2. Cut out 2 circles from the coloured paper. Cut the circles in half. These will become the wings of your owl. Glue your wings to the envelope.

3. Cut out two small triangles from your coloured paper. These will become the beaks of your owl. Glue the beaks onto the envelope. Remember, the open end is the bottom, and the closed end is the top of the owl's head.

4. Add googly eyes to your owl — or use buttons. You can also draw on eyes if you do not have googly eyes.

5. Create the “horns” of your owl by gluing tips of feathers to the corners of the envelope or make a little tuft of yarn and glue those to the corners of your envelope.

6. Decorate your owl puppet with markers, coloured paper, paint or other materials you may have.

7. Place your hand inside the envelope and play with your new owl puppet!

Taking It Further:

Great Horned Owls are one of the most common owls in North America.

Meet Bubo, a Great Horned Owl living at the Saskatchewan Science Centre.

What kind of sounds do owls make? Try to make sounds such as a woot, screech, or click.

Take your owl puppet outside. Where would your owl live? What other animals can make into puppets. Try making another animal puppet, perhaps what an owl might eat.

Downloadable Activities

Download these instructions here.

Download the Great Horned Owl Activity Book here.

Meet Bubo: The Saskatchewan Science Centre’s Great Horned Owl 

Bubo is a Great Horned Owl that lives at the Saskatchewan Science Centre!

Bubo was rescued after losing a wing while in the wild. Injured animals like Bubo can not be released back into their natural habitat, so Bubo will live at the SSC for the rest of its life.

Click Here to watch the Bubo live now, and learn more about Bubo and Great Horned Owls!