Teach Engineering
What is GIS?
Is GIS the real manifestation of Harry Potter's Marauders Map? Introduce your class to the history of geographic information systems (GIS), the technology that allows for easy use of spatial information, with a resource that teaches...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Eagle Creek Park (A Hike)
Learners 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...
Curated OER
I Know Where You Are!
Learners study what a GPS is and use it to challenge themselves and find positions on a map. In this investigative lesson plan students find various points on a map using a GPS system and answer questions on a worksheet.
Curated OER
Basic Mapping Skills
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.
Curated OER
State Your Position
Learners 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.
Curated OER
Lichens as Air Quality Indicators: A beginning lichen identification study (2003
Middle schoolers use GPS and trees to explore lichens and air quality.
Curated OER
Testing Soils for Garden Planting
Sixth graders collect soil samples and record the location of the samples by using GPS.
Curated OER
Scientist Tracking Network
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...
Teach Engineering
Projections and Coordinates: Turning a 3D Earth into Flatlands
Introduce your class to map projections and coordinates, the basics for the work done in a GIS, with an activity that uses Google Earth to challenge learners to think about the earth's shape.
Curated OER
Finding the Way
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.
Curated OER
Fostering Geospatial Thinking: Space to Earth: Earth to Space (SEES)
Students locate and access data to help them with their science inquiry. In this geographical positioning lesson plan students evaluate and compare data sets.
Curated OER
Geometry: Mountain Rescue Mission
Fifth graders improve their skills using map coordinates by playing a mountain rescue game. In pairs, they roll dice to determine their moves up a mountain. The team that reaches the rescue site in the shortest distance on the grid...
Curated OER
Rock Creek Water Quality
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.
Curated OER
Rock Creek Water Quality
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.
Curated OER
Seasonal Cloud Cover Variations
High schoolers, 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...
Alabama Learning Exchange
The Sun and the Earth
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.
Curated OER
Compass Building Instructions
Students 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.
Curated OER
Glacial Geocaching
Eighth graders measure strike and dip of given land features and explain the difference between them. They also look at rock and mineral samples for indentification, along with calculating the density. Finally, information is analyzed...
Curated OER
Mapping a Refuge
Students record observations gathered while at a national wildlife refuge. For this lesson on wildlife refuges, students choose an observation spot and record seasonal changes throughout the year.
Curated OER
Deep Blue: Exploring the Deep Ocean
Pupils examine landforms. In this social studies lesson, students bounce a beach ball around in order to discover that seventy percent of the Earth is covered in water. Pupils
Curated OER
Seasonal Cloud Cover Variations
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.
Curated OER
Creating and Analyzing Graphs of Tropospheric Ozone
Young scholars create and analyze graphs using archived atmospheric data to compare the ozone levels of selected regions around the world.