Curated OER
Sextant Solutions
Learners explore ways a sextant can be a reliable tool that is still being used by today's navigators and how computers can help assure accuracy when measuring angles. This activity will show how computers can be used to understand...
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Sextant Measurements
Students create a sextant. Using their sextant, students measure the height of tall objects. Students explore how sailors used sextants to identify their location on the ocean. They research how sextants are created.
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Navigation By the North Star: A Lesson Plan in Four Parts
Students investigate why the North Star was important for navigation, how stars move across the night sky, how to locate the North Star, how to make a crude sextant, and how to determine latitude using a sextant and the North Star. They...
Curated OER
Where Am I?
Extensive background on marine navigation is provided for you as the teacher. Assign groups to research marine navigation techniques and construct astrolabes. Resource links are listed for extension ideas. If you are teaching an...
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Of Compasses, Sextants and Chronometers
Learners identify longitude and latitude and how they were, and are, determined, and discuss the rudiments of navigation in the eighteenth century.
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The Mathematical Dynamics of Celestial Navigation and Astronavigation
High schoolers explore the different methods used in celestial Navigation and astronavigation. In this math lesson plan, students construct a sextant and demonstrate how it works.
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What's Your Latitude?
Students measure the height of items using an astrolabe. For this latitude lesson students construct a sextant and determine height and latitude with it.
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Do the Tallywalker
Students study the basics of mapmaking, then make a tally walker, (geographic location device used in secret).
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Location
Students explore the tools used by Columbus to chart his latitude. They study the change of a location over time.
PB Works
The Cay Word Wall
Support your learners as they read The Cay by Theodore Taylor with a word wall. This resource includes 50 words from the book. All the words are printed in large font, and some of the words are paired with images.
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Where Am I?
Sudents examine the types of instruments that can be used for marine navigation and position-finding. They practice using an astrolabe to solve trigonometric problems.
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Stellar Navigation
Students are introduced to the concept of stellar navigation. Inside a portable digital planetarium they identify various stars that were used as a navigational tool. They go through several activities in which they attempt to identify...
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Math of the Path: Students Calculate Data from the Lewis and Clark Journey
Students use calculations to complete the same journey of Lewis and Clark. They answer questions along their way and share information they gather with the class. They compare their calculations with those made by Lewis and Clark.
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The Time Has Come: Poetry and Drama Use in the Geography Class
Students use drama and poetry in their Geography class. In groups, they role play an interviewer or the interviewee in various plays that were presented to them. In their role, they must locate and label where the countries mentioned...
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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...
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Compass Building Instructions
Learners build their own compass following a given procedure. In this technology lesson, students explain how a compass is used in navigation. They trace the history of its development.
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The Greatest Survival Story of All Time
Students use the Internet to read about an explorer's survival in the Antarctic. They try to find a better route for him to have taken.
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Getting it Right!
Students investigate error. As shown in earlier activities from navigation lessons 1 through 3, without an understanding of how errors can affect position, one cannot navigate well. Students explore how computers can help in navigation....
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Constellation Mapping
Students plot constellations on a grid map. They discuss the various ways early explorers planned their travels. Students identify and recognize major constellations. They color their maps and take them home to try to find various...
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Sky Pictures
Students investigate constellations. In this space science lesson, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Students research the legends connected with the constellations.
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Lost in Time
High schoolers study time and how to accurately calculate it. In this time lesson students complete a lab activity in pairs and discuss their findings.
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Naval Warfare in the American Revolution
Students determine speed and bearing, calculate a position by dead reckoning, and modify this position using vectors for wind and current drift.
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How Do You Know Where You Are?
Seventh graders are introduced to geographic thinking, setting the stage for the creation of a map showing distance, direction, location and symbols from their residences to school.
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Navigation
Students study the basic methods for finding one's position on Earth. Latitude can be deduced from the height above the horizon of the pole star or of the noontime Sun, while longitude requires an accurate clock giving universal time.