Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) Technologies

 

Link Synopsis
GPS Hide and Seek National Geographic Article
Classroom Activities  
Geocaching Groups set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users  then use the location coordinates to find the caches.
Confluence The goal of the project is to visit each of the latitude and longitude integer degree intersections in the world, and to take pictures at each location.
Guide to Geographic Information Systems Fascinating website collection of data and methods to  use GIS. Great for cross curricular lessons with math and other subject areas.
Globe Guide to Educators List of lessons and resources from Globe. Good lessons with materials for completing them. Completely downloadable and Adaptable to your needs.
Monarch Tracking Raise, tag and track the movements of Monarch Butterflies. Fascinating for all ages.
Webquests And Lesson Plans  
Global Warming Webquest
Locate data and information on "Global Warming"
Lewis and Clark: Lost in the Wilderness Find where Lewis and Clark explored (Sample of poor resource)
Oh the Places You'll Go! Fun Webquest but requires buying a "Travel Bug tag"

GPS /GIS Activities

Northhampton School District resources
Community Mapping Activity From Harvard University

A Map is Worth a Thousand Words

Learn to imagine new uses for GPS
Satellite Science Construct a model of a Global Positioning System
Finding Your Way Use terms (latitude / longitude / north / south / east / west / elevation)
History of Maps Cartography is an ancient discipline that dates from the prehistoric times to the present
Reading Maps Four map reading lessons
Classroom Activities Interesting interactive
GIS, GPS and Mapping Studies Mapping projects that span subject standards in science, math and history.
Environmental Education Lesson Lesson plans for grades Pre k -12 from National Park service. Includes downloadable materials for all lessons
Classroom Exercise: Where Am I? The class locates a hunter lost in the woods
Latitude and Longitude Lesson about latitude and longitude