Navigation and the Canoe

Our ancestors used the stars, heavenly bodies, wind, birds, and waves to navigate the Pacific Ocean. This technique is called:

• navigators way

• wayfinding

• master navigation

• wayfounding

What is the easiest to learn yet least important tool of wayfinding?

• the wind

• the stars

• the sun

• the waves

This tool of wayfinding is the most important tool used by navigators.

• wind

• waves

• sun

• stars

Navigators knew they were near land when they noticed these three things around them:

• sun, moon, and stars

• clouds, birds, and swells

• birds, swells, and wind

• stars, sun, and waves

True or False: Navigators were so well trained that they could navigate using a single star in the sky.

• True

• False

What are the other names for the North Star and the Southern Cross?

• Palacios and Cruz

• Polaris and Crux

• The Northie and Southie

In Micronesia, the hull was made out of what?

• coconut trees

• breadfruit wood

• pandanus leaves

• pine tree wood

How did islanders stay alive during a big typhoon at sea?

• they tied themselves to the canoe

• they jumped out of the canoe

• they navigated to nearby land

• they sailed quick and got out of the typhoon

It is said that the ways of ancient navigation were lost when the Europeans arrived. Why?

• They started to use planes to travel instead of outrigger canoes.

• The Europeans destroyed their outrigger canoes.

• The ancient navigators were forbidden from practicing wayfinding.

• The Europeans had modern tools like maps and compasses that made it easier for navigators to use.

True or False: Wayfinding was only used by Polynesians.

• True

• False