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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Navigating with the Kamal

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienteering

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Everything you wanted to know about orienteering, and more! Take your class on an adventure with this creative activity. You will need to gather some supplies and materials and maps for your specific location, but the unit sounds like it...
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Article
NASA

From Smoke Signals to Cell Phones: Tracing How Technologies Evolve

For Students 6th - 12th
Explore the science of space exploration. Pupils consider technological advances in propulsion, communication, power, navigation, and imaging. They select one of these areas and create a timeline of historical progress that contributed...
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Activity
Teach Engineering

Stay in Shape

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Using their knowledge of right triangles, pupils find out how far a ship is from a light house. Class members determine how far around the world a ship would be sailing at a constant speed.
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Sun Compass of the Vikings

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Where on Earth Am I?

For Students 9th - 11th Standards
Almost every phone has GPS installed, but a large number of teens don't know how the technology works. An initial activity illustrates how GPS determines a location on Earth. Scholars then apply trilateration procedures to a...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Navigation in the Ancient Mediterranean and Beyond

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Britannia Rule the Waves

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

How To Travel On Earth Without Getting Lost

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Take a virtual trip with a geography lesson that uses longitude and latitude, the position of the sun, an astronomy app, and a classroom globe.
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Lesson Plan
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NOAA

Technology II

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Ping, ping, ping. The last installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program explores technology use in marine studies, such as sonar. Activity involves simulating sonar techniques to identify a...
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Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Physical Oceanography and Meteorology, Navy Search and Rescue Operation

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
It's an ocean rescue mission! Groups must find a pilot downed off the coast of the Chesapeake Bay. Rescuers must determine the distance needed to travel as well as the heading to get to the pilot's last known position. Taking into...
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Lesson Plan
PHET

Mapping the Ambient Magnetic Field

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
No GPS allowed! High school scientists continue to explore magnetic fields with a hands-on activity. After mapping the ambient magnetic field in the classroom and completing data analysis, they write about the similarities and...
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Printables
PBS

Arthur Compass Rose

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Keep your class headed in the right direction with this printable compass rose. Large and easy to read with a smiling picture of Arthur in the middle, this resource would make a fun addition to the desk of any primary grade student.
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Activity
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Owl Teacher

Imaginary Nation: Constructing a Map

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Your young geographers will combine what they have learned about the five themes of geography and their inner creativity to design a physical map for an imaginary nation.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Mapping Worksheet #1

For Students 6th - 8th
Get out the compass and a pencil its time to use a coordinate grid to practice mapping skills. Young cartographers use the prompts and provided grid to plot locations, draw parallel lines, and determine distances between points. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

True North, Magnetic North

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explain why compass angles need to be corrected for regional magnetic variation. They observe the difference between magnetic and true north. Each student measures the angle of variation for a town in a different state.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetism

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This set of seven activities attracts physical science stars to concepts concerning magnetism. Pupils play with a lodestone, magnets, needles, and iron filings to understand magnetic forces, fields, and applications. If you are new to...
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PPT
Curated OER

Introduction to Magnets

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Ask your class what they know about magnets, then take some time and explain basic magnetic properties. This presentation covers polarity, magnets in compasses, and magnetic force. It provides a quick hands-on exploration where kids...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Construct, Bisect, Duplicate: Geometry Practice with Compass and Straight Edge

For Students 9th - 12th
Geometers employ a straight edge and compass to duplicate and bisect segments and angles, construct perpendiculars, parallel lines, figures, and circles with points of concurrency. Ample practice with 65 questions across 8 worksheets. No...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Making a Six-pointed Star

For Students 7th - 8th
For this polygon worksheet, students identify and create a six-pointed star by completing 6 steps. First, they use a compass to trace a circle with a given radius. Then, students draw a point on circumference of the circle and place the...
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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.
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PPT
Curated OER

Mapping It Out: Social Studies Online

For Teachers 2nd
A great way to introduce 2nd graders to map skills would be to use this presentation. The visuals are inviting and the layout is easy to understand. This would be a terrific way to cover the basics on how to read a map. There is also a...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Compass Points 2

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
If you're looking for a worksheet that enhances the skills of your pupils when using a compass, this one could be for you. Pupils are faced with 12 compass word problems in which they must give a variety of answers regarding degrees,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compass Reading

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Here's a basic lesson plan on reading a compass. Learn the names of the parts of a compass. Learn how to read a bearing in degrees. Then go outside and follow a course of cones set up on the grass or in a clear area. Starting at one...