How to Play the Games

There are four interactive games which allow you to apply the same knowledge as an actual tundra navigator would. Tunturyuk Position generates a random month and time and asks you to rotate Tunturyuk to the position it should be in at that time. Tunturyuk Navigation generates a random rotation of Tunturyuk along the horizon and asks you to move the scope to align with North, given the month and time. Advanced Navigation adds in additional stars, so you must learn to recognize Tunturyuk and know where to look for it in the sky. Tunturyuk Time generates a random position of Tunturyuk for a specific month, and asks you to use this information to determine the time of day. The programs represent all four pieces of information that can be used in navigation. If you know any two pieces of information, you can use them to find the rest of the information you need.

Time of Day
Month of the Year (Calendar Time)
Position of Tunturyuk (Big Dipper)
Compass Direction

For example, if the time of day and direction of north are known, the position of Tunturyuk and and the month of the year can be predicted. Likewise, if the month of the year and the position of Tunturyk are known, the time of day, and the direction of North can be determined.

In the program, the position of Tunturyuk, time of day, and month of the year are variable. It is assumed that the image on the screen is what you would see, if you were looking due north.

When the software loads, the Tunturyuk is in the position it would be on November 10th at 10:00pm. It can be returned there at any time by pressing the button in the lower right hand corner.

Tunturyuk Position

Tunturyuk Position generates a random month and time and asks you to rotate Tunturyuk to the position it should be in at that time.

  • You begin by pressing the button to generate a month and time, which will be displayed beneath the button.
  • Given your knowledge of Tunturyuk's movement, you should be able to determine its position for the given date and time. Press the +30 degrees button to rotate Tunturyuk to the correct position.
  • Press the Check button to see if you have chosen the correct position.
  • If you are correct, Fred will congratulate you. If you don't get it the first time, keep trying! You can hit the Reset button at any time to return Tunturyuk to its original position and the time to November 10th at 10 pm.

Tunturyuk Navigation

Tunturyuk Navigation generates a random rotation of Tunturyuk along the horizon and asks you to move the scope to align with North, given the month and time.

  • You begin by pressing the button to generate a random month, time and position of Tunturyuk.
  • Given your knowledge of Tunturyuk's movement, you should be able to determine North given Tunturyuk's rotational position and the month and time. Using the Look Left and Look Right buttons (or the left and right keys), you can move the scope into alignment with Tunturyuk. When you have the correct position, the center of the scope is pointing north.
  • Press the Check button to see if you have correctly determined north.
  • If you are correct, Fred will congratulate you. If you don't get it the first time, keep trying! You can hit the Reset button at any time to return Tunturyuk to its original position and the time to November 10th at 10 pm.
  • When you get good at this game, try the advanced version... it challenges you to identify Tunturyuk among many stars as you navigate, just as Fred George does.

Tunturyuk Time

Tunturyuk Time generates a random position of Tunturyuk for a specific month, and asks you to use this information to determine the time of day.

  • You begin by pressing the button to generate a random month and rotational position for Tunturyuk.
  • Given your knowledge of Tunturyuk's movement, you should be able to determine the time for the given month. Press the +2 hours and -2 hours buttons to choose the time you think is correct.
  • Press the Check button to see if the time is correct.
  • If you are correct, Fred will congratulate you. If you don't get it the first time, keep trying! You can hit the Reset button at any time to return Tunturyuk to its original position and the time to November 10th at 10 pm

Tunturyuk Time Class Activity

To play Tunturyuk Time with your class, you'll need a few things.

  • Fifteen identical markers, each worth one point. (pennies do nicely)
  • Five identical markers, each worth five points. (nickels do nicely)
  • The interactive Tunturyuk program, available here
  • Some friends

Start with the youngest player, and then continue around the board in a clockwise direction. Each player does the following:

  1. The player clicks the "RANDOM" button, and gets a new month and time.
  2. Click the "+30 DEGREE" button to move Tunturyuk thirty degrees counterclockwise. The player stops when he believes he has the correct position.
  3. The player clicks the "CHECK" button.
    • If the position is correct, the player gets a point, and takes chips to show their new score.
    • If the position is wrong, click "RESET". The player to the left now gets an opportunity to set the Tunturyk in the right place. Continue around the circle until a player gets the right position. That player gets a point. If nobody gets the right position, that point is sacrificed.

Play now moves to the next player on the left. That player clicks "RESET", and then starts their turn with item 1.

Play ends when all chips have been given out.