Social+Studies

The following are geography-related GPS or geocaching activities:


 * //Cardinal Directions:// Use the Compass Page to teach students about the cardinal directions. Have students stand in the middle of an area such as a playground with their GPS and a blank compass rose. Ask students to walk N, S, W and E and record what is found in a cache at each end of the playground.


 * //Toys Timeline:// Create caches of pictures with different classic toys (i.e. tinker toys, lincoln logs, yoyo, frisbee, etc.). Student find caches, identify years the toys were invented, and create a timeline using an online time line tool or software such as TimeLiner XE. This is a great way to kickoff a unit on inventors or inventions.


 * //Where in the World Cache:// Create a school cache on Geocaching.com. Ask visitors to the cache to record information in the log book such as city, state, country they were born. Students can periodically check the log book. Google Earth can be used to track the visitors birth places. You can also think about creating a digital logbook to record this information through a Google form. NOTE : Due to security reasons, Geoaching.com will not allow you to place a cache on your school's campus. You will need to find a location nearby. You can also think about creating a digital logbook to record this information through a Google form.


 * //Campus Landmarks:// Students will choose ten landmarks across the school campus. Using a GPS unit, students will record the waypoint (latitude, longitude) for each landmark on a recording sheet. Students will then return to the classroom and use Google Earth to mark each landmark. Students can also take pictures and upload them to Google Earth to create a tour to share with others.


 * //American Symbols:// Create caches for students studying American Symbols (i.e. Liberty Bell, Mount Rushmore, Bald Eagle, White House, etc.). Student find the caches, drawing a picture of each symbol, and record an interesting fact in a log book.


 * //Mystery Caches:// Students research a famous place, landmark, event, etc. in the world and use a word processor to write 5 or 6 clues about it. After learning how to make a waypoint on a GPS receiver, students set out across campus hiding, marking, and naming their caches. Students then exchange GPS units to track down the caches created by their peers. The students return to the classroom and use the Internet to to help solve the mystery place. Example:
 * 1) Clue 1: I am a city.
 * 2) Clue 2: There is a labyrinth within me.
 * 3) Clue 3: An earthquake once destroyed a large part of me.
 * 4) Clue 4: I have a lot of mosques.
 * 5) Clue 5: I have the most Koran schools than any city in my country.


 * //Seven Continents:// Have middle school geography students create caches about the seven continents as an introduction for an elementary unit on the seven continents. Caches can include clues, pictures, flags, etc. Students locate the caches and try to identify the continent in their cache.


 * // Colonial America: // Students in fourth grade researched topics related to Colonial America and created final projects to showcase their learning. One group of girls chose to share what the learned through a geocaching experience. The girls created note cards with pictures of clothing along with note cards describing different jobs and events where the clothing would be worn. The cards were mixed up and eight caches were hidden across campus for parents to find. Once all the caches were located, parents returned and were challenged to match the pictures with the descriptions. The girls then repeated the experience with members of their class. A presentation was reviewing the matches and sharing additional information was then given.


 * //Country Flags:// Hide flags of different countries in caches. Students must then identify the flag and conduct research on the country's geography, history, economy, government, and people. Information researched can be record on a class wiki. This Asia Wiki was created by 2nd graders

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