How do you find your way on an ocean with no roads and no signs? Sailors used special tools called navigation tools.
The compass has a needle that always points north, so sailors always knew their direction. The astrolabe helped them measure the sun and stars to learn how far north or south they were. Maps of the sea, called charts, showed coastlines and safe routes.
Their favorite ship was the caravel — small, fast, and easy to steer. Its special triangle sails could catch wind from almost any direction. Sailors climbed tall masts, tied strong knots, and watched the stars at night. The sea was their highway!
1. Which way does a compass needle always point?
2. What did the astrolabe measure?
3. What made the caravel a great ship for exploring?
4. What are sea maps called?
Write what each word means in your own words.
Write C (compass), A (astrolabe), or CH (chart) for each job.
| Job | C, A, or CH? |
|---|---|
| I need to know which way is north. | |
| I want to measure the stars to find my position. | |
| I need to see the coastline and safe routes. | |
| My ship turned in a storm — which direction now? | |
| How far north have we sailed? |
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
1. The needle always points north.
2. The measured the sun and stars.
3. The was a small, fast ship.
4. Sea maps were called .
5. Sailors watched the at night.
6. Knowing which way is keeps you on course.
Draw a caravel with triangle sails. Add a compass rose in the corner of your picture showing N, S, E, and W.
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| What a compass and astrolabe do | YES / NOT YET |
| Why the caravel was special | YES / NOT YET |
| How sailors found their way at sea | YES / NOT YET |