What they will learn/
What you can teach:
"This isn't England": Information about a powerboat's interior layout.
"I am the compass/Sidekicks say": Differences and similarities between compass direction and boat direction. Learning is made fun and competitive when this exercise is organized in teams or timed efforts. The emphasis with this exercise is through speed and cooperation with others, to complete the compass/direction calls as "second nature."
Dial-a-Direction Compass: This exercise has the same learning intent as "I am the compass," but provides an indoor activity which through assembly and use, provides a handy classroom compass. Whether it's a rainy day or materials to participate in "I am the compass" are not available, this approach produces a personal calculator which combines the traits of solving problems (similar to math) with an "arts and crafts" assembly.
Build your own water compass: How the earth's magnetic field controls a compass and provides a constant source of direction. The frictionless and flotation properties of this compass also serve to teach aspects of buoyancy and the ease with which a boat is subject to changes in direction.
Don't Go To Pieces BONUS: By incorporating a fire extinguisher as an "onboard buddy," it becomes an expected part of every motorboat's interior layout. This aspect, along with the P.A.S.S. acronym, matches necessity with use. Showing how P.A.S.S. works helps participants understand that a fire extinguisher is not a static element of a boat's layout, but when used knowledgably becomes an active onboard fire preventative.
Activity and Participation:
1."This isn't England" activity:
Position chairs similar to a powerboat's layout and compare and discuss how the operator's position differs from a car. Use the chair layout with kids in place to show competent observer and boat operator placement.
2. "I am the compass"(sung to "I am the Walrus"):
Use playground chalk on macadam or other hard-surfaced playground to produce a 15-20 foot circle with true North, South, West and East direction as shown in diagram. Place a chalk mark at center of circle where person in life jacket is to stand. Attach clothesline to the top of each life jacket arm opening, front buckle or tie and back of life jacket. Each line goes out to the edge of the circle where one of four people (remember North, South, West and East) holds the end of the line.
Click on the image below to see a detailed view of this activity.
Each person, in the appropriate position, is labeled as bow, stern, starboard and port. If possible establish two teams and give each team (center person) a set of instructions for them to follow. As a variation give each team a different set of instructions as long as each set have the same number of steps and result in the same position (boat facing North, South, West or East). Another more difficult option is to establish a directional code. For example, compass direction/boat direction--N/S= move your boat so the starboard side is facing North.
"Sidekicks say game": Directions are called out preceded by "Sidekicks say point your bow to...." "
3. Dial-a-Direction Compass:
This converts the "I am a compass" outdoor activity to a classroom activity. Cut out the supplied boat diagram wheel and the slightly bigger compass wheel contained in the supplied pdf file. Choose from full-color pdf file artwork or black and white pdf file artwork.
Click on the image below to see a detailed view of how it works.
Feel free to have the participants color-in or decorate the boat and wheel graphics. After cutting out each wheel, center the smaller wheel on top of the other (compass) wheel andusing a hole punch, punch a hole through both pieces of paper at the center mark indicated. Affix both pieces with a gold flange. With increasing degrees of difficulty give the participants a series of directional equations to test their ability to recognize both compass and boat directions. As a higher challenge, equations can be established as a "string" of directions or directions using Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast as added directions issued one at a time.
Once all participants have an understanding of compass and boat directions, it's time to "take it up a notch" and transfer that knowledge to a map exercise using the "dial-a-direction" compass.
Click on the image below to download a pdf file which contains a printable 8.5" x 11" grid sheet.
Using this supplied map on a grid, use a common starting point on the grid and provide a "string" of directions with numbers as directional miles. For example, N/S/3 means: position your boat so its starboard side points North and move your boat 3 points (intersection points on the grid) in that direction. The boat's movement then proceeds with the next string of directions.
4. Build your own water compass:
Create a water compass by filling a non-metallic pie plate or dish with about an inch of water. Place your floatable boat cutout (as shown in the diagram) on the water. Take a magnet and "magnetize" the needle by moving or stroking the magnet along the needle approximately fifteen or more times. Place your magnetic needle on your boat as shown in the diagram and the boat and needle should slowly point north. You have a water compass that points North with the near-frictionless properties of flotation. A good way to prove the magnetic properties of the compass is to have the plate or dish on a board or table that can be steadily picked up and rotated.
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What you will need:
"This isn't England" : Chairs and overhead diagram (chalkboard or projected image) arranged to show boat operator and passenger seating.
"I am the compass/Sidekicks say": Clothesline or a similar light-duty rope, a Type II or Type III life jacket, playground chalk, playground area, a list of directional problems (similar to math problems) and five participants per team.
Dial-a-Direction Compass: Copies of the provided pdf file artwork printed on preferably heavy cover paper stock, hole punch and gold metal flanges. Sample problems are provided to help get things started.
Build your own water compass: A pie plate or similar deep flat serving dish as shown in the diagram, a sewing needle or pin, a tiny piece of styrofoam (from a drinking cup), cardboard, cork or plastic cut into the shape of a boat (when viewed overhead) and a magnet.
Don't Go To Pieces BONUS: A multi-purpose (rated for Type A, B and C fires) or Type B (specifically for fires from flammable liquids like gasoline or oil) fire extinguisher, markers and construction paper.
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Don't Go To Pieces BONUS:
1. An "onboard buddy"
A Coast Guard approved and easily accessible fire extinguisher is a required part of a motorboat's equipment. It is useful with periodic checks to make sure it is fully-charged and effective operation is understood. This exercise shows ways to promote safe use, observance of fire extinguishers and gives a fun and constant reminder of an extinguisher's onboard safety role as an "onboard buddy."
By decorating the extinguisher with eyes and mouth as shown (make sure the none of the applied pieces obstruct the extinguisher's performance), the participants create the requirement that the extinguisher must be onboard and through awareness is checked regularly. Click here to download a pdf file which contains the "onboard buddy" artwork you can print out and have your participants color and use.
P.A.S.S.--the nationally accepted acronym of Pull pin, Aim at base of fire, Squeeze handle and Sweep side-to-side--provides an easy to remember key to effective operation. While it is important as a component of boating safety for participants to know how to effectively and safely operate a fire extinguisher, it is just as important for the particpants to know the dangers of flammable fuels. Young participants should be cautioned that although he/she may know how to do something, it still requires an adult to take command of an emergency involving flammables and fire. The reason to underscore the lesson with this precaution is not to scare or have the participants put their safety skills "on hold," but to confirm that a hierarchy of responsibility and experience starts with the boat operator or knowledgable adult and must be observed in an emergency situation.
2. Water hose activity
Click here to download a pdf file that contains an activity that emmulates fire extinguisher procedures.
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