School Curricula Services

In-School Classes

Our class format fits orienteering lessons into one or more typical school periods that are 45-60 minutes long.

Our goal is to work with regular classroom or PE teachers, so that they are able to teach these classes on their own after an initial period of co-teaching. Initially, we come to your school, and work with classes back-to-back throughout the school day, to model the teaching. We can teach a single class, or attend more classes, depending on the level of support needed.

• Grades K-5, for one class at a time. We have a six-lesson series that can be shortened or extended. Activities include:

  • Animal Orienteering: Students match up animals on cards with corresponding pictures on cones scattered throughout an area. Skills learned: finding checkpoints, visiting checkpoints in order, spatial memory, agility, electronic punching.

  • Map Hide and Seek: We draw a map of the area with the students' input. We place objects and show their location on the map. Students take turns hiding objects and finding them using the map. Skills: map reading, communication.

• Grades 6-12

  • One-class schoolyard or park orienteering Introduction: Students use a map to find checkpoints in order. Electronic timing and a leaderboard lend excitement to the activity. 

  • A series of four or more classes: develop orienteering skills like orienting the map, knowing the map symbols, and route choice, in a series of game-based activities.

Examples of our work in Massachusetts:

• Cambridge Public Schools - taught in all schools:

  • 6-lesson 3rd PE grade unit

  • 2-lesson middle school PE unit

  • 5-lesson high school elective

• Public Schools of Brookline: PE in grades 3-8, and 7th grade math

• Sunita Williams School, Needham: K-5 orienteering unit

• Roger Clap School, Boston: JK-6 orienteering PE unit

• Lexington public schools: Professional development for teachers

• Chelmsford public schools: Professional development for teachers