I just need to quickly say that I may be coaching sailing this summer. It's not for a school and I do not have any formal teaching background.

My question is: What is a good substitute for describing angles?

Or at what level do children know about fractions? I will need to use up to 1/8 at least, ideally 1/12.

And what level do children know how to read a analogue clock?

If these children haven't learnt either of these things yet, how do you suggest I teach them angles in a simple way?

The ages are all over the spectrum including adults, although they will be divided by age group and skill level. I'm still trying to figure out what to do for the youngest groups.

I'm a third grade teacher and my students were introduced to fractions in second grade. I teach them up to 1/10 and then in fourth they should know up to 1/12. The kids also learn about angles in 4th grade, although, I'm not sure if they use protractors.

Perhaps you can introduce them to the cardinal points, North, South, East and West. If they are facing the North, and turn on themselves until they face North again, it means that they turned through 360 degrees. Then, you can break it down up to 90 degrees. When they understand that angles are used to measure how much of rotation, and not distance in any way, I think it should be easy.

That's only my suggestion.

Perhaps you can introduce them to the cardinal points, North, South, East and West. If they are facing the North, and turn on themselves until they face North again, it means that they turned through 360 degrees. Then, you can break it down up to 90 degrees. When they understand that angles are used to measure how much of rotation, and not distance in any way, I think it should be easy.

That's only my suggestion.
Unfortunately, that will only be more confusing to them as they need to learn about basic navigation (cardinal buoys included) and points of sail (the angle issue at hand). Thanks for taking the time to answer though.

Anymore ideas? I'm most worried about kindergarten level students here.