The Golden Compass - Activities and Ideas

Lyra is given an alethiometer by the Master of Jordan College in Northern Lights/The Golden Compass. Unlike many of the so-called experts who study the alethiometer for years before understanding it, Lyra has a gift for reading the strange symbols and sequences.

The alethiometer is her guide through the worlds of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, but she has to think of the right questions to ask - and sometimes searching for the right questions can be more difficult than looking for answers.

In order to read the alethiometer, Lyra has to think of her question, and then move the three red needles to the appropriate symbols. The large black needle then swings wildly to various symbols, which Lyra reads in sequence as the answer to her question.

Image: Movie character poster from IGN

Cut two cardboard circles, one slightly smaller than the other. Pierce a small hole in the centre of each circle with a darning needle.

Draw symbols around the edge of the smaller circle. There are 36 symbols on the alethiometer designed for the movie, but it's not necessary to have so many. You can either choose from the same symbols used in the movie, or create your own symbols of items that have particular meaning for you. There is a list below of the symbols used in the Golden Compass movie with suggested interpretations.

Create a raised rim around the edge of the larger circle using modelling clay, or by gluing a length of string or cord around the outer edge.

Wrap the edge and the raised rim of the larger circle with gold foil.

Glue the smaller circle on top of the larger, overlapping the foiled edge and holding it in place.

Cut one large purple or black needle or arrow shape, and three small red needles out of cardboard.

Push a brass fastener (split pin) through the cardboard needles. Make the holes through the red needles fairly loose, and the hole through the black needle quite tight. This will allow the red needles to be moved manually and stay in their positions, while you rotate the black needle by turning the back of the fastener, to mimic the way Lyra reads the alethiometer.

Another alternative is to use a real compass and cut a cardboard ring to fit around the rim. Draw the symbols on the ring.

Hold the ring on the compass, and hold the compass flat, while spinning in a circle. Stop and note the symbol that the compass needle is pointing to. Spin again in the opposite direction (so that you don't get too dizzy), and note the symbol indicated.

Image is the movie alethiometer from The Golden Compass movie website

Divide your guests into pairs for this game of Daemon Charades. Each pair draws a card with the names of a Golden Compass/His Dark Materials character and their daemon.

Space the couples out for a few minutes' discrete discussion over who will be the human and who will act as the daemon, and how to portray the clues.

Decide which couple will start, perhaps by the highest roll of a set of dice.

The pair acts out the human/daemon combination on the card they drew. The first person to guess correctly is the next pair to act out their card. Depending on how many cards and guests you have, you might want to limit turns and use the dice to decide who acts next.

Use the attributes of both characters to provide clues, for example:
- A haughty human; monkey sounds and behaviour = Mrs Coulter
- Human "riding" a broomstick; arms flapping for a bird = Serafina Pekkala

Suggested human/daemon combinations from The Golden Compass:

Lyra and Pantalaimon (most often an ermine or a moth)
Mrs Coulter and Ozymandias (golden monkey)
Lord Asriel and Stelmaria (snow leopard)
John Faa and crow
Farder Coram and Sophonax (lynx)
Serafina Pekkala and Kaisa (snow goose)
Lee Scoresby and Hester (hare)
Ma Costa and hawk

From The Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass:

Will Parry and Kirjava (cat)
Mary Malone and alpine chough
Lord Boreal and snake
Stanislaus Grumman and Sayan Kötör (osprey)

Images: Movie character posters from IGN

Movie stills and publicity images copyright © New Line Cinema.

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