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Exploring with GPS: Enhancing Learning Through Geocaching

Discover how GPS technology and geocaching can be used in the classroom to engage students in hands-on learning experiences. Learn about the basics of GPS, how it works, and how to start your own geocache adventure. Get tips on using geocaching for interdisciplinary activities and content-specific lessons.

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Exploring with GPS: Enhancing Learning Through Geocaching

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  1. Inspiring Inquiring Minds: Using GPS in the Classroom Sheryl Crain, NBCT

  2. What is GPS? • GPS is funded by and controlled by the US Department of Defense (DOD). While there are many thousands of civil users of GPS world-wide, the system was designed for and is operated by the U. S. military. • GPS provides specially coded satellite signals that can be processed in a GPS receiver, enabling the receiver to compute position, velocity, and time. • Four GPS satellite signals are used to compute positions in three dimensions and the time offset in the receiver clock.

  3. How is GPS used? • Besides being used by the military, GPS is used in forestry, biology, fishing, hunting, boating, racing, nursing, and many other fields. • GPS technology can be effectively used in your classroom as well.

  4. How does GPS work? • A GPS device receives signals from satellites orbiting the earth to triangulate your location, which will be given as a global address. • Or, the GPS device can lead you to a previously marked location, much like a compass.

  5. How do I get a GPS receiver? • They range in price from about $100 to well over $1,000. • Consider writing a mini-grant to get 4 or 5 to be used at your school. • Borrow them from husbands, friends, or parents of your students to use for a Geo-cache.

  6. What is Geocaching? • One of the fastest growing “new” sports. • Has participants in many countries outside of the US and Canada. • Is a modern day active treasure hunting activity that allows you to use GPS – and therefore a “global address” – to locate a cache.

  7. Are there rules for Geocaching? • Yes, there are: • 1. Take something from the cache • 2. Leave something in the cache • 3. Write about it in the logbook • 4. Do not move the cache

  8. What do I need to start a Geocache? • Container(s) with a lid – usually plastic and waterproof • At least one GPS device • Something to put in the cache

  9. Versions of Geocaching to use in the Classroom • Scavenger Hunt – students take a sealed clue from each cache and bring back to a predetermined location to open and solve a riddle or mystery • Content Specific Caches – each cache has an activity that deals with one particular subject area (ex. – each cache has a math problem that students must solve)

  10. Classroom, cont. • Interdisciplinary Cache – each cache has information or an activity from a different subject subject area • Holiday Themed Cache – find Easter Eggs or Halloween candy! • Science/Social Studies Cache – each “cache” is actually a tree, plant species (or something similar), or landmark that students must identify

  11. Just Remember… • Take Something (may be physical or a “fact”) • Leave Something (usually) • Do not move the cache

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