Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Home to School, GPS Style

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students are introduced and increase proficiency in the use of the hand held GPS system. They explore the meaning of longitude and latitude lines, then identify the parts of the map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Basic Mapping Skills

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Establish and study the parts of a map with your class and, then they will work in small groups to create their own detailed map, including a legend.  There are specific instructions to follow on what needs to be included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latitude and Longitude

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study latitude and longitude. They estimate the latitude and longitude of their hometown and find the latitude and longitude of other cities using a map. They use a website to find out the cities' actual latitude and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where is Here?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners are shown the very basics of navigation. The concepts of relative and absolute location, latitude, longitude and cardinal directions are discussed, as well as the use and principles of a map and compass.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Where in the World is my School?"

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students learn new vocabulary and discuss what GPS is and does. They locate their school using the equipment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GPS Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students go on a GPS scavenger hunt. They use GPS receivers to find designated waypoints and report back on what they found. They compute distances between waypoints based on the latitude and longitude, and compare with the distance the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Grand Excursion GPS Map

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the uses of a global positioning system. They create waypoints and have to find them using the system. Students must review the geographical concepts of latitude and longitude. The media requirements of the...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Sun and the Earth

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study and diagram the positions of the Earth and sun during the four seasons. They predict weather for cities in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. History: What Happened Here?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils apply the global positioning system to create maps of local historical sites. By collaborating with local historical groups, they research events and relate them to broader, national history. In addition to writing essays about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Know Where You Are!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study what a GPS is and use it to challenge themselves and find positions on a map.  In this investigative lesson students find various points on a map using a GPS system and answer questions on a worksheet. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Expedition of Discovery

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study GPS and see how it is used to determine points on the Earths surface.  In this expedition lesson plan students use GPS to find given coordinates. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fostering Geospatial Thinking: Space to Earth: Earth to Space (SEES)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students locate and access data to help them with their science inquiry.  In this geographical positioning lesson plan students evaluate and compare data sets. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Creek Water Quality

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders test water in a local creek using chemical kits and probes. They take GPS readings and digital photos. They calculate the Water Quality Index and create a spreadsheet of the test data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock Creek Water Quality

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders test water in a local creek using chemical kits and probes. They take GPS readings and digital photographs. They calculate the Water Quality Index and create a spreadsheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding the Way

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and research navigational tools used in deep sea explorations. They are introduced to a compass, the Global Positioning System and sonar technology and then describe their uses in underwater exploration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating and Analyzing Graphs of Tropospheric Ozone

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students create and analyze graphs using archived atmospheric data to compare the ozone levels of selected regions around the world.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Navigation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eagle Creek Park (A Hike)

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students plot a hiking course using aerial photos and a topographic overlay and find the latitude and longitude of absolute locations. They measure the total distance of a hiked area and figure the area of the ground walked using Heron's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasonal Cloud Cover Variations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars, in groups, access data from the NASA website Live Access Server regarding seasonal cloud coverage and the type of clouds that make up the coverage. They graph the data and make correlations between types, seasons and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientist Tracking Network

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students correlate surface radiation with mean surface temperature of several geographic regions. They observe how these parameters change with latitude and construct an understanding of the relationship of solar radiation to seasonal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing Soils for Garden Planting

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders collect soil samples and record the location of the samples by using GPS.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

State Your Position

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars practice using a global positioning system. They discuss the use of celestial objects as navigation points and its problems. They list the advantages and disadvantages of GPS as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lichens as Air Quality Indicators: A beginning lichen identification study (2003

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use GPS and trees to explore lichens and air quality.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasonal Cloud Cover Variations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize different cloud types. They determine the seaonality of various types of clouds. They graph the data and determine if a correlation exists between season, cloud cover and type of clouds most prevalent during each season.