General Educational Resources - Geocaching and GPS
Geocaching Teachers on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=166009673391
Geocaching for Educators Wiki
http://pageocaching.wikispaces.com/
GPS and Place-based Learning
http://eduscapes.com/omrp/gps.htm
GIS/GPS in K12 Education
http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/gis.htm
Geocaching in the Classroom
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6463503.html
Ideas for using geocaching to enhance field trips – add caches with info about the site for students to find. Or have students design a cache to be placed at a location.
Dr. Christie's GPS and Geocaching Guide for Educators
http://alicechristie.org/geocaching/index.html
Welcome to GPS and GeoCaching in Education
http://www.evalamar.com/GPS/index.htm#
Geocaching Blog
http://geocache.itrtblog.com/
Search by subject area to find ideas for using geocaching in classroom activities.
Educaching: GPS Based Curriculum for the Classroom
http://shop.geocaching.com/default/educaching-teachers-guide.html
Book from geocaching.com - $31.99
Students Map Real-World Issues with (free) GPS Technology
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/students-map-real-world-issues-free-geospatial-tools-suzie-boss
ESRI is donating its GIS software free to schools. Described are three school project using GIS technology.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=166009673391
Geocaching for Educators Wiki
http://pageocaching.wikispaces.com/
GPS and Place-based Learning
http://eduscapes.com/omrp/gps.htm
GIS/GPS in K12 Education
http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/gis.htm
Geocaching in the Classroom
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6463503.html
Ideas for using geocaching to enhance field trips – add caches with info about the site for students to find. Or have students design a cache to be placed at a location.
Dr. Christie's GPS and Geocaching Guide for Educators
http://alicechristie.org/geocaching/index.html
Welcome to GPS and GeoCaching in Education
http://www.evalamar.com/GPS/index.htm#
Geocaching Blog
http://geocache.itrtblog.com/
Search by subject area to find ideas for using geocaching in classroom activities.
Educaching: GPS Based Curriculum for the Classroom
http://shop.geocaching.com/default/educaching-teachers-guide.html
Book from geocaching.com - $31.99
Students Map Real-World Issues with (free) GPS Technology
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/students-map-real-world-issues-free-geospatial-tools-suzie-boss
ESRI is donating its GIS software free to schools. Described are three school project using GIS technology.
Physical Education
Geocaching Makes Walking Fun for Physical Education Classes
http://www.physicaleducationupdate.com/public/293.cfm
Effects of walking and geocaching on high school physical education students’ heart rate
http://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/54435
PE Exercises (with Algebra)
http://geocache.itrtblog.com/2010/09/p-e-exercises-with-algebra/
Students solve a problem at each cache to determine the number of times they complete an exercise.
Physical Education
http://geocache.itrtblog.com/2010/02/physical-education/
Students rotate through caches and complete a physical fitness activity at each cache
Using Geocached QR Codes for Revision in a PE Classroom
http://thepegeek.com/2009/03/26/using-geocached-qr-codes-for-revision-in-a-pe-classroom/
Modified activity adding QR codes that can be read with cell phones
Nice PE Teacher Blog --- Mr. Robbo – The PE Geek
Heart to Heart Geocache – Example cache
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=560e6417-71cd-4092-8315-4a488c7a0359
http://www.physicaleducationupdate.com/public/293.cfm
Effects of walking and geocaching on high school physical education students’ heart rate
http://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/54435
PE Exercises (with Algebra)
http://geocache.itrtblog.com/2010/09/p-e-exercises-with-algebra/
Students solve a problem at each cache to determine the number of times they complete an exercise.
Physical Education
http://geocache.itrtblog.com/2010/02/physical-education/
Students rotate through caches and complete a physical fitness activity at each cache
Using Geocached QR Codes for Revision in a PE Classroom
http://thepegeek.com/2009/03/26/using-geocached-qr-codes-for-revision-in-a-pe-classroom/
Modified activity adding QR codes that can be read with cell phones
Nice PE Teacher Blog --- Mr. Robbo – The PE Geek
Heart to Heart Geocache – Example cache
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=560e6417-71cd-4092-8315-4a488c7a0359
Science
Technology and the Study of Wildfire: Middle School Students Study the Impact of Wildfire
http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/win2005/wildfire/index.html
Dinosaur Geocaches
http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/geocachingchallenge/
Biodiversity Geocache – example of a cache used in school
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=331edcd8-cc9a-47ec-b312-413337a1277c
http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/win2005/wildfire/index.html
Dinosaur Geocaches
http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/geocachingchallenge/
Biodiversity Geocache – example of a cache used in school
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=331edcd8-cc9a-47ec-b312-413337a1277c
Communication Arts
Storyseeking
http://www.storyseeking.com/
Oliver K. Woodman Geocaching Lesson
http://tcoffey.edu.glogster.com/oliverkwoodman
http://www.storyseeking.com/
Oliver K. Woodman Geocaching Lesson
http://tcoffey.edu.glogster.com/oliverkwoodman
GPS Applications and Games
Gravehop Wherigo
Combining geocaching with computer gaming
GPS Games
A selection of challenges that incorporate GPS including Geodashing, Geopoker and Geogolf
EarthCache
Geocaching with an environmental slant
Degree Confluence Project
With the goal of taking a picture at every latitude and longitude intersection
Journey North - Mystery Class
Requires students to use longitude and latitude to solve a location mystery
TerraClues
Use Google Maps to solve geography clues
Gravehop Wherigo
Combining geocaching with computer gaming
GPS Games
A selection of challenges that incorporate GPS including Geodashing, Geopoker and Geogolf
EarthCache
Geocaching with an environmental slant
Degree Confluence Project
With the goal of taking a picture at every latitude and longitude intersection
Journey North - Mystery Class
Requires students to use longitude and latitude to solve a location mystery
TerraClues
Use Google Maps to solve geography clues
Geospatial Lessons
Consider the lessons, projects, and ideas below. What is a question that could be investigated
that would utilize geographic location data? What is a topic that is interesting to investigate over
a variety of geographical areas?
Science
International Boiling Point Project
Students analyze how long it takes to boil water at different locations around the world. How might the use of GPS enhance this study?
Can you think of other phenomena that might be affected by location that could be similarly measured?
The Global Sun Temperature Project
How does latitude affect the average daily temperature and amount of sunlight?
Pathfinder Science
Many of these projects which involve geographical location as students in different locations collect and share data.
The Lichen and SO2 project, the Kansas Winter Bird Survey, Stream Monitoring, Global Warming, Keeping an Eye on Ozone, and
Amphibian Biomonitoring are all possibilities for including GPS data. If GPS is not currently a part of these projects
consider how it might be added to enhance the data collection.
Social Studies
Cultural Migration: Where Did We Come From?
This project uses interviews to record the cultural heritage of an area.
How might this project use numerical data and GPS coordinates to enhance the data collected?
How Much Does It Cost? - Economics (Cached copy)
This project examines how much different items for food, entertainment, etc. cost in different areas.
Lions, Kiwis and other Oddities (Cached copy)
Students look for national symbols in their neighborhoods and record where they are found.
This project is set in New Zealand and the UK so students are looking for symbols such as lions and gargoyles.
Consider what we might look for in your area and how using GPS might enhance this project.
GeoGame
Students submit clues about the city where they live which include latitude, longitude and time zone.
The class then receives clues for 10 different cities and is asked to correctly locate each one.
KnowGlobe
Students in this classroom are skyping with classrooms around the world. How might GPS enhance this experience?
Language Arts
Chewing the Fat - Link to project is broken
This project collects slang used in different areas of the world. How might the use of geospatial technologies enhance this project?
Flat Stanley
Based upon the Jeff Brown’s book Flat Stanley, this project invites students to send a Flat Stanley to relatives
who then record his adventures and where he goes. Consider how the use of GPS and Google Earth might be incorporated into this project.
Google Lit Trips
This site focuses on using Google Earth with Literature. Consider how you might develop a project collecting
information on local authors from different areas, or book settings from different areas.
Math
Global Grocery List
This project collects prices of grocery items from all over the world. How might geospatial technologies add to this project?
What is something we might collect price data on for our class project?
The National Math Trail
“The National Math Trail is an opportunity for K-12 teachers and students to discover and share the math
that exists in their own environments. Students explore their communities and create one or more math
problems that relate to what they find.” Consider how GPS coordinates and Google Earth might enhance this project.
Consider the lessons, projects, and ideas below. What is a question that could be investigated
that would utilize geographic location data? What is a topic that is interesting to investigate over
a variety of geographical areas?
Science
International Boiling Point Project
Students analyze how long it takes to boil water at different locations around the world. How might the use of GPS enhance this study?
Can you think of other phenomena that might be affected by location that could be similarly measured?
The Global Sun Temperature Project
How does latitude affect the average daily temperature and amount of sunlight?
Pathfinder Science
Many of these projects which involve geographical location as students in different locations collect and share data.
The Lichen and SO2 project, the Kansas Winter Bird Survey, Stream Monitoring, Global Warming, Keeping an Eye on Ozone, and
Amphibian Biomonitoring are all possibilities for including GPS data. If GPS is not currently a part of these projects
consider how it might be added to enhance the data collection.
Social Studies
Cultural Migration: Where Did We Come From?
This project uses interviews to record the cultural heritage of an area.
How might this project use numerical data and GPS coordinates to enhance the data collected?
How Much Does It Cost? - Economics (Cached copy)
This project examines how much different items for food, entertainment, etc. cost in different areas.
Lions, Kiwis and other Oddities (Cached copy)
Students look for national symbols in their neighborhoods and record where they are found.
This project is set in New Zealand and the UK so students are looking for symbols such as lions and gargoyles.
Consider what we might look for in your area and how using GPS might enhance this project.
GeoGame
Students submit clues about the city where they live which include latitude, longitude and time zone.
The class then receives clues for 10 different cities and is asked to correctly locate each one.
KnowGlobe
Students in this classroom are skyping with classrooms around the world. How might GPS enhance this experience?
Language Arts
Chewing the Fat - Link to project is broken
This project collects slang used in different areas of the world. How might the use of geospatial technologies enhance this project?
Flat Stanley
Based upon the Jeff Brown’s book Flat Stanley, this project invites students to send a Flat Stanley to relatives
who then record his adventures and where he goes. Consider how the use of GPS and Google Earth might be incorporated into this project.
Google Lit Trips
This site focuses on using Google Earth with Literature. Consider how you might develop a project collecting
information on local authors from different areas, or book settings from different areas.
Math
Global Grocery List
This project collects prices of grocery items from all over the world. How might geospatial technologies add to this project?
What is something we might collect price data on for our class project?
The National Math Trail
“The National Math Trail is an opportunity for K-12 teachers and students to discover and share the math
that exists in their own environments. Students explore their communities and create one or more math
problems that relate to what they find.” Consider how GPS coordinates and Google Earth might enhance this project.
Geography - Latitude and Longitude
Pinterest - Resources for Teaching Latitude and Longitude
Ideas for Teaching Latitude and Longitude
Google Maps - Smarty Pins - Students can test their knowledge of geography by dropping pins in the correct location on Google Maps.
Not longitude and latitude - but fun geography!
Ideas for Teaching Latitude and Longitude
Google Maps - Smarty Pins - Students can test their knowledge of geography by dropping pins in the correct location on Google Maps.
Not longitude and latitude - but fun geography!