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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.
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The Pilgrims
Students use distance measuring tools to follow directions and chart the path the pilgrims made from Plymouth, England to Boston, Massachusetts. For this Pilgrim voyage lesson, students use a map to chart the distance traveled by the...
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Ocean Currents and Sea Surface Temperature
Students use satellite data to explore sea surface temperature. They explore the relationship between the rotation of the Earth, the path of ocean current and air pressure centers. After studying maps of sea surface temperature and ocean...
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Applications of the Pythagorean Theorem - Magnetism
Middle and high schoolers use the Pythagorean Theorem to complete a table showing with the magnetic field strengths in given cities. They find the average value of the Earth's magnetic field and plot one of the three-dimensional values...
Teach Engineering
Who Can Make the Best Coordinate System?
Working with a map that does not have a coordinate system on it, small, collaborative teams must come up with a coordinate system for their map. Groups then explain their coordinate structure to the class.
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Westward Expansion
Students locate California and New York on a map and explore available means of travel in the 19th century. Students explore the role of trade in pioneer America and simulate various barter transactions.
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What's Out There? Space Shuttle Exploration and Simulation
Students role-play the jobs of space shuttle astronauts, conduct experiments, and research space using the Internet and offline experiments. Student-astronauts hold a "press conference" to share their information with others in a...
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Math with Maps and Globes
Students round out their math skills with these ‘round the world' ideas. In this math and geography instructional activity, students try out time zone sticks, a polar race, and tic-tac-globe to engage them in learning more about globes...
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Rivers, Maps, and Math
Students use maps to locate and label the major rivers of North and South America. Using the internet, they identify forests, grasslands, mountain ranges and other landforms on the continents as well. They compare and contrast the...
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Using Coordinate Geometry by Land, Sea and Outer Space.
Students complete a table of values and plot points, as well as construct a graph on a coordinate grid. They construct two graphs on the same coordinate system, and identify the point of intersection. Students represent and record...
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How far have we traveled?
Students practice longitude and latitude to determine given position on Earth's surface, convert and calculate angular measurements, and use Pythagorean Theorem to determine change in position or distance traveled between any two locations.
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Spherical Geometry: A Global Perspective
Students investigate spherical geometry using a globe and an apple. In this spherical geometry lesson plan, students translate Euclidean geometry terms to spherical geometry terms using a globe. They answer 3 questions about spherical...
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Time Zones
Students solve time zone problems and chart travel around the world. For this time zone lesson, students learn about the history of time zones and view a time zone map. Students use the time zone map to solve time zone...
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Plot Your Course
Students determine distance and direction on a nautical chart. In this nautical activity, students identify obstacles and characteristics of common aid to navigation on a nautical chart.
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GPS Scavenger Hunt
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...
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A Real Life Example of the Distance Formula
Students answer the following question: "Using the lines of latitude and longitude, what is the distance (in degrees) if you were to travel from NASA Dryden to NASA Ames?" They use the distance formula to find the distance (measured in...
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From Where to Where?
Learners find locations based upon their latitude and longitude coordinates. In this latitude and longitude activity, students locate points on a grid and learn how to use an astrolabe.
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Sextant Solutions
Middle schoolers 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...
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Where Are We?
Students use Cartesian coordinates or degrees of latitude and longitude to locate important locations within their specific countries. They Use a grid to apply the concept of latitude and longitude, or positive and negative Cartesian...
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Where is Here?
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.
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Calculation the Cricumference of Earth using "Google Earth"
Eighth graders investigate properties of circles. In this eight grade mathematics lesson, 8th graders apply proportional reasoning to data gathered with “Google Earth” to calculate equatorial and polar circumference of the...
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U Boat Hunt
Young scholars recognize patterns and sequences in numbers. In this geometry instructional activity, students create rules to define the sequences and patterns they obsere. They translate coded messages as they dicuss navigational terms.
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Typhoon Project
Learners graph and outline the path of a typhoon. In this algebra instructional activity, students measure the path of the typhoon and create a graph with their data. They analyze the data and make predictions.
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Follow That Ship!
Students in this exercise are introduced to the distinct ways of measuring distance (nautical miles) and speed (knots) at sea, as well as the concepts of latitude and longitude for establishing location.