GPS Activities for the Classroom

Activity Description: Describe in as much detail as possible.

What do you want the students to learn?

• To work on rounding and subtraction math practice in a interesting way – exposing students to technology

Set-up

• Markers at East and West wends of main building (NES)
• GPS navigator
• Students in groups with journals and pencils

What steps will the students take?

• Groups of 4-5 students will take turns taking a GPS location at the East end marker and the West end marker.  Those waiting in each group will write down latitude and longitude location, elevation, and number of satellites shown on GPS; this will be recorded in their journals for future elaboration.
• Students will return to class for math work. They will take the latitude locations and round to the nearest degree. Do the same with the longitude locations.  Then find the difference between the latitudes and the longitudes of the two sites.

Extra Activities?

• Journal work for all students.
• Students will record what they did and what they learned during the activity.
• Use a trundle wheel to measure the approximate distance in meters between the two stakes.
• Estimate how many meters would equal one “degree.”

Elementary GPS Lessons

Middle School GPS Lessons

High School GPS Lessons