How to Navigate in Nature

You’ll take part in a virtual TV nature-orienteering game called Lost in the Wild. To do this, you’ll split into teams and compete to see who can get to the designated location first. You will demonstrate your survival skills in an unfamiliar terrain, meanwhile recreating the situations described using familiar Scratch coding tools – choosing graphical representations, creating your blocks and different algorithms. You have to follow exactly the steps described in the scenario. Good luck!

SCENARIO:

You are a participant in the TV virtual game “Lost in the Wild“.

You need to move from point A to point B using your knowledge of orientation on natural objects.

Your participation begins early in the morning at sunrise.

You are left by a helicopter in a bare meadow. All you have is a map with key places drawn on it, which you will easily recognize when you get to them. There are questions or hints about these key places that will help you head in the right direction and reach point B, namely the hut where you will have to spend the night.

The meadow where you are left is the first key place.

To head to the lodge you need to head west.

• How will you know where to go?

Consider whether you will use the map to determine which way is west or use the Sun as a guide. Discuss as a team what you will do and why.

• Create a scene, a sprite and a directional algorithm according to the described situation using the familiar tools in Scratch.

After a few hours of walking through the forest, at noon you reach a clearing again. This is the second key spot. Now you need to head east. Here again, the sun will be your helper!

Joker: When you stand facing your shadow right at noon, north is in front of you and south is behind you. When you hold out your hands, your left hand points west and your right-hand points east.

• What will you do and how long will you stay in this meadow? Recreate the situation using the codes in Scratch.

You will find the third key place if you have correctly determined the directions set so far. After about 30 minutes of moderate walking, you will reach a place where the road splits in two. One road leads north and the other leads south. You should go to the north.

Joker: Between the two roads there is a huge boulder covered on one side with moss.

• How will you determine which path to take? Recreate the situation through the codes and the additional resources in Scratch.

The fourth key spot is a distinct mountain fountain from which two scenic trails branch off. Between them, you will see some old logs, and behind the fountain, there is a small grove. From the constant wind, the branches of the trees in it are leaning to the east. You have to head south to reach the hut.

Joker: Look at where the wider distances are between the annual circles of the deniers and remember what that means. Where do you think the wind blows most often in this place?

• Create a scene, the required number of sprites and an algorithm for each of them to move in a direction, if necessary, according to the situation described using the familiar tools in Scratch. 

FINAL

If you make the right decisions you will reach the lodge before sunset and enjoy a well-deserved rest! Fly the flag of victory!

Recreate the situation using the Scratch codes and the character’s emotional state (music, dance, song, etc. of your choice).

To download: Worksheet Game scenario “Lost in the Wild”