Mr. Delfino's class recently went on a class trip to Poricy Park. Poricy Park is a large historical park that is home to the Murray House and barn that is about 100-200 years old. It is also a place for class trips.
This year we went to learn about navigation skills. We learned how to use a compass, GPS, and learned how people navigated up to 500 years ago!
You use the compass by lining up the direction you want to go with the not-red arrow. Then you line up the red needle with the red arrow on in the compass. As long as they are lined up, the outer line shows the indicated direction.
My group learned about the Vikings. The Vikings used birds behavior to determine where land is and where the sea was. If the bird had food in its mouth and it was flying, most likely it was heading towards land. If the bird had no food and it was flying, it is most likely flying to sea to get food. Sometimes the Vikings brought Ravens aboard and let them free to watch where they go.
The Vikings needed to follow the sun when they traveled. When the sun was covered by clouds, they found their own technique. They would use a sun stone. Sun stone is a unique mineral that illuminates when it is directed to light. So when the clouds set in, the Vikings would move the sun stone until it produced light.
Poricy Park was very interesting, and if you ever visit for a class trip, I hope you enjoy and learn even more than I did.
By Matthew M.
This year we went to learn about navigation skills. We learned how to use a compass, GPS, and learned how people navigated up to 500 years ago!
You use the compass by lining up the direction you want to go with the not-red arrow. Then you line up the red needle with the red arrow on in the compass. As long as they are lined up, the outer line shows the indicated direction.
My group learned about the Vikings. The Vikings used birds behavior to determine where land is and where the sea was. If the bird had food in its mouth and it was flying, most likely it was heading towards land. If the bird had no food and it was flying, it is most likely flying to sea to get food. Sometimes the Vikings brought Ravens aboard and let them free to watch where they go.
The Vikings needed to follow the sun when they traveled. When the sun was covered by clouds, they found their own technique. They would use a sun stone. Sun stone is a unique mineral that illuminates when it is directed to light. So when the clouds set in, the Vikings would move the sun stone until it produced light.
Poricy Park was very interesting, and if you ever visit for a class trip, I hope you enjoy and learn even more than I did.
By Matthew M.
