Find Out More
Part of Toolbox of Faith
The Compass Dude website is a resource for all things "compass," including alternate ways of finding direction, such as navigating by the stars.
Find more compass games on a resource website for Canadian Girl Guides. The game, Dutch Compass, was provided by Bev Spillane.
Super-Easy Supermagnet Compass
This compass (Activity 4) requires a rare earth magnet, preferably a neodymium disk magnet, such as part number ZD4 from K and J Magnetics, Inc. It is one inch in diameter by a quarter-inch thick, and made of N42 grade (strong) neodymium-iron-boron.
See a video on You Tube that shows the same compass-making steps described and illustrated in the leader resource, Super-Easy Supermagnet Compass.
The K and J Magnetics, Inc. website includes a page that lists dozens of uses for magnets. Also read the web page devoted to safe use of magnets, which reads, in part:
The neodymium magnets are extremely strong, and must be handled with care to avoid personal injury and damage to the magnets. Fingers and other body parts can get severely pinched between two attracting magnets . . . . Eye protection should be worn when handling these magnets, because shattering magnets can launch pieces at great speeds.
The strong magnetic fields of neodymium magnets can also damage magnetic media such as floppy disks, credit cards, magnetic I.D. cards, cassette tapes, video tapes or other such devices . . .
Never place neodymium magnets near electronic appliances . . . .
Small children should not be allowed to handle neodymium magnets as they can be dangerous... .Like any tool or toy, neodymium magnets can be fun and useful, but must always be treated with care.