Celestial Navigation Teacher Resources
Find Celestial Navigation lesson plans and worksheets
Showing 24 resources
Curated OER
The Mathematical Dynamics of Celestial Navigation and Astronavigation
Students explore the different methods used in celestial Navigation and astronavigation. In this math lesson, students construct a sextant and demonstrate how it works.
Curated OER
The North (Wall) Star
Students engage in a lesson which shows them that celestial navigation is the art and science of finding one's geographic position by means of astronomical observations, particularly by measuring altitudes of celestial objects - sun,...
Curated OER
How to be a Great Navigator!
Students, through teacher lecture and class discussion, explore historical methods of navigation: dead reckoning and celestial navigation.
Space Awareness
Navigation in the Ancient Mediterranean and Beyond
Ancient texts, like Homer's Odyssey, mentions navigating ships by observing constellations. Pupils learn about the link between history and astronomy as they relate to navigation in the Bronze Age. Scholars complete two hands-on...
Space Awareness
The Sun Compass of the Vikings
Evidence shows the Vikings likely navigated by using a simple sundial to find their course. Videos, a short story, and discussion help bring this time period to life as they study European history with a hands-on experiment. Scholars...
NOAA
Make Your Own Compass
Scholars build a compass using a needle, cork, magnet, and a water-filled cup in order to locate the magnetic north and south.
Curated OER
Things That Stick Out Or: How To Find Your Way Around on a Map
Students explain the meaning of and recognize the map outlines of a peninsula, an isthmus, and a cape.
Space Awareness
Navigating with the Kamal
Historians have proven that as early as 1497 skilled navigators were using a kamal to sail across oceans. Scholars learn about navigation tools and astronomy before building their own kamals. They then learn how to use it to determine...
Curated OER
An Introduction to the Night Sky and Movement Astronomy
Basically, this is an interactive exploration of educational astronomy software and an app. Young astronomers discover how the apparent motion of the sky relates to Earth's movements and the position of the observer. It is out of this...
Space Awareness
Britannia Rule the Waves
Could you determine longitude based on measuring time? Early explorers used a longitude clock to do just that. Scholars learn about early exploration and the importance of the invention of the clock. Then pupils build their own longitude...
Curated OER
'Tis a Long, Long Way to Tipperary!
Young scholars practice finding the location of cities across the world by using an interactive Web site, and figure out the world's time and the value of time zones the world over.
Curated OER
How to be a Great Navigator!
Students examine historical methods of navigation. They discuss the techniques of "Dead Reckoning," "Heaving the Log," and "Chip Log," pretend to sail from Europe to North America using vectors and determine the location of their...
Curated OER
Big Dipper Story Wheel
Students research a Canadian Indian Tale. In this constellation instructional activity, students hear the story "Never-Ending Bear Hunt" which describes the constellations from the Native American perspective. They create their own...
Curated OER
TE Lesson: Navigating at the Speed of Satellites
Learners study the basic concepts of the Global Positioning System and how it increases the accuracy of navigation. They examine trilateration and how the speed of light is used to calculate distances.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The North (Wall) Star
Celestial navigation is the art and science of finding one's geographic position by means of astronomical observations, particularly by measuring altitudes of celestial objects - sun, moon, planets or stars. This activity starts with a...
Other
Uss Constitution Museum: How to Be a Great Navigator!
In this activity, 7th graders are shown how Great Navigators of the past stayed on course with the historical methods of navigation. The concepts of dead reckoning and celestial navigation are discussed. Using Vector Voyage students will...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How to Be a Great Navigator!
In this lesson, students will learn how great navigators of the past stayed on course - that is, the historical methods of navigation. The concepts of dead reckoning and celestial navigation are discussed.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Navigating at the Speed of Satellites
For thousands of years, navigators have looked to the sky for direction. Today, celestial navigation has simply switched from using natural objects to human-created satellites. A constellation of satellites, called the Global Positioning...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Solar System!
An introduction to our solar system: the planets, our Sun and our Moon. Students begin by learning the history and engineering of space travel. They make simple rockets to acquire a basic understanding Newton's third law of motion. They...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Ways of Navigation
This video, adapted from material provided by the ECHO partners, describes three different ways that people have navigated the oceans by use of instruments, celestial bodies, and the surrounding environment.
Other
Sea and Sky: Celestial Objects
Empty space in outer space is not truly empty. Celestial objects fill the space not occupied by planets, stars, and such. This resource identifies these objects and further explains their existence.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Which Stars Can You Use for Navigation
A great science project from Science Buddies that examines how ancient peoples navigated without the benefit of a GPS. Find out which stars are important in navigation in the northern and southern hemispheres. The Science Buddies project...
NOAA
Noaa: Make Your Own Astrolabe [Pdf]
Create your own astrolabe after reading to find out what one is. Measure heights of objects around you using the astrolabe.
Crash Course
Crash Course Kids 37.2: What's the Ecliptic
In this Crash Course episode, Sabrina talks about an imaginary line called the Ecliptic and explains its cycle in the sky. [3:30]