Lesson Plan

Navigating with the Kamal

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This Navigating with the Kamal lesson plan also includes:

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 their latitudes based on the location of Polaris as a reference point.

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CCSS: Adaptable
NGSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Activity best fits into a larger unit on seafaring in geography, history, literature, etc.
Classroom Considerations
  • Assumes prior knowledge of simple trigonometry, latitude, longitude, and finding a position on Earth
  • Requires going outside when the North Star is visible
Pros
  • Provides cross-curricular connections to history, explorers, science, math, culture, and many other topics
  • Includes complete answer key, including the discussion questions
  • Offers many diagrams and photos of how the kamal works
Cons
  • None
NGSS