CountyCache

Lesson Title: County Cache Grades 3,4 Time to Complete: 3 days (not necessarily consecutive)

Activating Activities:

Materials Needed:

Inspiration* or some alternate mind mapping software. Online alternatives: http://www.diigo.com/list/lorisheldon/mind-maps Handheld GPS receivers. State map/county map Google Earth Google Maps Resource materials for local historical places or other places of interest. Teacher will need to mark these places as waypoints into student GPS receivers.

Prerequisite skills: Understanding cardinal and ordinal directions Ability to read a map by using the key General working knowledge of GPS receiver (by doing simple caches on school property, placed by teacher.)

Strategies Used:

1. In small groups, students will brainstorm about important places in their hometown or county. 2. Pull the class together and have a reporter from each group share the lists. Use Inspiration* to create a web of these places, discussing their significance. 3. Students research local history and places of interest. See sample page for more details: http://geofrog.wikispaces.com/samplelesson 4. Take students on a virtual tour of the locations via Google Earth. 5. Take a tour of the actual locations, finding them using GPS waypoints and receivers. 6. After the tour, students may add to or change the information about their locations. 7. The final step would be to have groups share what they learned.

Closure: 1. Mark the locations on a county map. 2. Written or orally reflect: Share your favorite location and explain why it is your favorite.

Assessment: Teacher observation/rubric - posted here http://geofrog.wikispaces.com/samplelesson - bottom of page. (Tried to insert, but formatting was lost.)

Possible Extensions: Calculate the distances between the points of interest This could be an introduction to the concepts of latitude/longitude. Find your global address, including lat/long coordinate.

Pennsylvania Standards Addressed: Science/Technology 3.6.3 B Know that information technologies involve encoding, transmitting, receiving, storing, retrieving and decoding. 3.7.3 A Explore the use of basic tools, simple materials and techniques to safely solve problems. 3.8.3 B Use basic computer software.

Social Studies/Geography 7.1.3 A Identify geographic tools and their uses. 7.1.3 B Identify and locate places and regions.

Social Studies/History 8.1.3 A Understand chronological thinking and distinguish between past, present and future time. 8.1.3 B Develop an understanding of historical sources. 8.2.3 A Understand the political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups to Pennsylvania history. 8.2.3 B Identify and describe primary documents, material artifacts and historic sites important in Pennsylvania history

Reading 1.2.3 A Read and understand essential content of informational texts and documents in all academic areas. 1.2.3 B Use and understand a variety of media and evaluate the quality of material produced.

Health/Phys. Ed 10.4. 3 A. Identify and engage in physical activities that promote physical health and fitness

ISTE NETS(S) Addressed: 2. Communication and Collaboration Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students: a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media. d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems. 3. Research and Information Fluency, Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media. c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks. d. process data and report results. 5. Digital Citizenship Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students: a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology. b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.