Geodesy Teacher Resources

Students discover how a datum of reference points are used to to describe a location. For this Earth Science lesson, students will simulate how a GPS accurately determines the location of reference points within a datum.

Doesn't the level of the ocean vary from hour to hour and from year to year? Then, what do we really mean by "sea level" when we are talking about elevation? Find out what geodesists, those who work with the math behind the shape and...

Pupils measure movements in the Earth's crust due to seismic activity. Students calculate the amount of displacement in horizontal and vertical direction due to an earthquake.

High schoolers determine how to measure the movement of the plates along the San Andreas Fault. Students calculate the movement of tectonic plates over a period of time and describe the processes involved in the occurrence of earthquakes...

Students investigate data on coral reef monitoring in a marine protected area in the Florida keys. In this coral reef lesson plan, students use online data from a marine protected coral reef to complete a worksheet about coral...

Students calculate the amount of displacement after an earthquake.  In this seismic event lesson students research the Internet, and fill out a CORS data sheet.

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. 

Students study the San Andreas Fault, calculate its movements, and compare the movements on both sides.  In this earthquake lesson students use the Internet to track movement, and calculate movement using a spreadsheet. 

Students use maps and online data to find specific geographic areas.  In hurricane Katrina lesson students use aerial photographic imagery to see some impacts of hurricane Katrina. 

Young scholars practice using a GPS receiver and reading directions in an on-campus field trip. Students can identify a building stone, tree, or plant at each stop depending on which area of science is being studied.

Illustrated tutorial explains the history and science of geodesy. Animations help students visualize how scientists measure and monitor the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points on its surface.

The homepage of the Center for Space Research at the University of Texas whose mission is "to conduct research in orbit determination, space geodesy, the Earth and its environment, exporation of the solar system, as well as expanding the...

This resource looks at how geologists are able to measure the movement of tectonic plates using satellite-based data and how they were able to surmise in the past that the plates were moving. It also discusses how to read GPS time-series...

Hunt for survey marks that can possibly be found in your community. These markers may be very old and have been used to pinpoint exact locations for planning and building around the country.

This slideshow explains how satellites are used to measure the movement of tectonic plates.

A map resource that allows users to view many different features of the topography, textures, and geodetic data on selections in the drop down menus.

In this activity, students find data on a location and description of survey marks in the area, and then they search for them through a variation of geocaching.

Site from NASA contains a collection of 91 questions pertaining to the Earth's atmosphere, magnetic field, ionosphere, rotation and origin of life.

Introduces South African Alexander Toit as naming Gondwanaland and Laurasia.

This class activity provides hands-on information to young scholars on how these volcanoes form and how they affect the plant and animal life.

Introduces South African Alexander Toit as naming Gondwanaland and Laurasia.