GPS Lesson Plans
| Grade | Subject Area(s) | Lesson/ Activity Title | Description | Files to Download | Contributor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-12 | Computer Education |
Computer Basics | This lesson is designed to expose students tot he basics of a computer. | Guenevere Boney, Lenoir County Schools | |
| Grade 1 | Social Studies Computer Skills |
Community Cache | Students will use a GPS to move about the school grounds to locate 3 caches. Each group will find 3 separate caches that contain activities pertaining to their study of communities. | Ashley Hood, Lenoir County Schools |
K-5 | Language Arts Social Studies Computer Skills |
Community of Learners | This cache is designed to promote third graders community involvement and citizenship while also aiding kindergarten students in the mastery of alphabet skills | Community of Learners | NC DPI Staff |
| Grade 3 | Computer Skills Mathematics Science |
Seed Investigators | Students will use a GPS to locate caches where they will observe the properties of the seeds and do estimation. | Seed Invesigators.pdf | Ashley Hood, Christy Eubanks and Charles White Lenoir County Schools |
| 3-5 | Language Art Computer Skills |
Caching with Wolves |
Using The true Story of the 3 Little Pigs as a basis. The student will complete a series of Geocaches designed to reinforce the sequencing of events in narratives and the writing of these narratives. |
NC DPI staff |
|
| 3-5 | Language Arts Computer Skills |
12 Days of Summer |
Based on the 12 Days of Summer picture book, this series of caches challenges students to write their own 12 Days of Summer. |
NC DPI staff |
|
| 3-5 | Science | Eat, Drink and Chirp | This multistage cache includes visits to a bird house and bird bath. Students are asked to identify bird types and needs. | Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff | |
| 3-5 | Mathematics Computer/Technology Skills |
Ball Toss |
Designed as part of the “On Any School Campus” series, this cache utilizes the ball toss game found on many campuses to reinforce skills like estimation, probability and graphing. | Ball Toss Worksheet | Johnston County Instructional Technology Staff |
| 3-5 | Science | Environmental Protector | Sample activities that involve the application of mathematics to items located on a school campus. | Environmental Protectors | Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff |
| 3-5 | Language Arts | Hatchet by Gary Paulsen | Using Longitude and Latitude Coordinates, students will work in groups to locate four caches. Each of these caches will contain items need to survive in the Canadian Wilderness. The students will choose an item from each cache. After they have located all four caches, students will write about why they chose those particular items. | Hatchet Geocache | NC DPI staff |
| 3-5 | Mathematics | GeoCachin Egg Hunt | Students are divided in 5 groups to locate hidden “caches” somewhere on the campus using a GPS. Information in each cache (egg) contributes to creating a spreadsheet | Egg Hunt | Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff |
| 3-5 | Language Arts Science |
Cache In Trash Out | Designed as part of the “On Any School Campus” series, this cache combines environmental clean up with a study of cause and effect and persuasion. | Cache In Trash Out | Johnston County Instructional Technology Staff |
| 3-6 | Language Arts | Holes by Louis Sachar | Using Longitude and Latitude Coordinates, students will work in groups to locate four caches. Three of the caches will have math problems in them that will lead them to the next cache. The final cache will be a treasure chest with items that relate to the book Holes, by Louis Sachar. At the final cache have students create a journal entry of what is a treasure to them. |
Holes Geocache | NC DPI staff |
| 3-5 | Language Arts Computer/Technology Skills |
Poetry Cache | This cache links poetry with nature. | Poetry Worksheet | Johnston County Instructional Technology Staff |
| 3-5 | Language Arts Computer/Technology Skills |
Scrambled Animals | Based on Jack Prelutsky’s poem Scranimals, students are asked to design a new creature and create a multimedia presentation. |
Scrambled Animals Worksheet | Johnston County Instructional Technology Staff |
| 3-5 | Language Art Social Studies |
Mapping the School |
Students will use a GPS to move about the school grounds to locate 3 caches. Each class will be divided into 3 groups to find 3 separate caches that use map reading skills and become familiarized with the functions of the GPS. The learning is transferred between the physical school grounds, the paper map and the latitude and longitude directions on the GPS. |
Ashley Hood, |
|
|
6-8 9-12 Adaptable |
Science Computer Skills |
Science Kits | Science Kit Activity was created for Science Education students at Campbell University. These Activities were adapted to the 4th grade Frog Pond Unit also included |
Using Handhelds in Science Classroom – Group Roles Geocaching for Frog Pond |
Ellen Durham, Campbell University Donna Sawyer, Janet Stark, |
| 3-8 | Art Science |
Campus Nature |
Used at Wadesboro Elementary School, these cache activities were included in caches hidden in areas where the items described where readily available and noticeable. | Campus Nature | NC DPI staff |
| 3-8 | Mathematics Science |
Kudzu |
These cache activities were designed to accompany a cache hidden in Kudzu, prevalent on many campuses in NC. |
NC DPI staff | |
| 3-8 | Social Studies Language Arts Computer/Technology Skills |
An American Symbol |
Designed as part of the “On Any School Campus” series, this cache ties the flag pole on a campus to picture book, research and application of knowledge. |
Johnston County Instructional Technology Staff | |
| 3-12 | Language Arts | GeoCaching Word Search | Design to accompany a lesson in GeoCaching, this worksheet helps to review terms. | Geocaching Word Search | NC DPI staff |
| 3-12 | Social Studies Computer Skills |
GPS Treasure Hunt |
This activity is used to introduce students to the
GPS technology. It focuses on coordinates, compass use, longitude
and latitude. |
Janet McLendon, |
|
| 4-6 | Social Studies |
The Tarheel State |
This cache includes items pertinent to NC. Students are asked to identify each and its importance. |
Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff |
|
| 4-6 | Mathematics Social Studies |
Stepping Back in Time |
This cache combines math and local history. |
Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff |
|
| 4-6 | Science |
On the Rise |
This cache is hidden at a school’s see saw and gives students an opportunity to discuss simple machines. |
Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff |
|
| 4-6 | Mathematics |
Stripes |
This cache relies on the school mascot to help teach ratio and measurement. |
Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff |
|
| Grade 5 & K | Computer Skills Social Studies |
Bill to Law | Students will use a GPS to move about the school grounds to locate 6 caches. Each group will find 6 separate caches that contain activities following the steps that a Bill goes through to become a Law. One cache is a virtual cache. | Bill to Law.pdf | Carol Edwards, Ashley Hood, Jan Tucker, Charles White
|
| 5-6 | Computer Skills Healthful Living Language Artls Science Social Studies Visual Arts Education |
Holes | After reading the novel Holes, students will find caches aligned across the NCSOS. | Holes Geocache.pdf | Beth Bryant and Ellen Covington, Richmond County Schools |
| 6 | Language Arts Social Studies |
A Student’s Respite |
This cache is a reverse or locationless cache that requires students to describe their experience. |
Richmond County Instructional Technology Staff |
|
| 6-8 | All | Venn Diagrams | Sample activities are listed for using Venn Diagrams in Geocaches for all subject areas. | Suggestions of Venn Diagrams with Geocaching | Nancy Ledbetter, New Hanover County Schools |
| 6-8 | Language Arts, Social Studies | Who, What, Where, When, Why, How | Activity includes suggestions for 2 different mulitcaches that challenge students to answer questions involving the 5 Ws. | Suggestions for Use of Who, What, Where, When, Why, How | Nancy Ledbetter, New Hanover County Schools |
| 6-8 | Math, Geography, Art, Technology | Graph Paper | Activities included for using Graph Paper in Geocaches in support of curriculum areas. | Suggestions for Use of Graph Paper with Geocaching | Nancy Ledbetter, New Hanover County Schools |
| 6-8 | Reading | Seeking Out Sequence | The lesson focuses on putting events in sequence. Students will complete a multi-step cache to retrieve parts of a story which they will then sequence at the end of the hunt. | Seeking Out Sequence | Greta White, Lenoir County Schools |
| 6-8 | PE | Get Your Step On! | Using GPS Handhelds, students will find caches on campus and keep track of their steps using "step-o-meters" provided by the LiveIt Program. | Leigh Patterson and Jen Downey, Lenoir County Schools |
|
| 6-8 | PE | Healthy Living | The students will become familiar with looking for caches in an outdoor setting and also learn the fitness benefits of GeoCaching as a hobby. | Troy Worthington, Lenoir County Schools |
|
| 6-8 | ESL | GPS for a Fairy Tale | The lesson is designed to build vocabulary and integrate the learning of latitude and longitude as well as aid in the sequencing of events. | Gustavo Melo, Lenoir County Schools |
|
| 9-12 | Mathematics |
Real Math |
Sample activities that involve the application of mathematics to items located on a school campus. |
NC DPI staff |
|
Science |
Becoming a Geocacher |
Students will gather information on environmental influences on human health issues. This project will create real connections for students about the environmental influences around the world. In addition students will become more aware of the health issues associated with our environment. |
J. Downey, |
||
Math |
One Step Equations and GPS |
This lesson covers one step equations, the GPS coordinate system, sequences and problem solving. |
Carol S. Nisbit, |
||
Math |
A Great Pattern Mystery |
This lesson covers patterns and sequences as well as flexibility in solving problems. |
Katherine Beamon, |
||
| Language Arts | Christmas Carol Synonyms | This lesson is designed to build vocabulary and integrate the learning of latitude and longitude Students will learn synonyms of common Christmas carols, which will enhance vocabulary. | Jennifer Garner, |
||
| Language Arts | Notorious Nouns | This lesson focuses on learning and recognizing nouns. | Glenda Smith, |
||
| Social Studies | Problem Solving Puzzles from Foreign Lands | This lesson allows students to practice and use techniques to solve Sudoku puzzles. | Henrietta Shepherd, |
||
| Professional Development | All | The Amazing GeoCache Race |
This activity was designed as a team building experience and as an introduction for teachers about GeoCaching and problem solving. |
NC DPI staff |
|
| Professional Development | ALL |
Hungry for Adventure |
The participants had to go to three locations and solve problems in order to get the letters to where their lunch was hidden. One was in a tree (stumped) One in the corner crack of an old incinerator, and one in the ball field dugout. Participants were not told to solve the extra clue but they had to in order to finish the cache. |
Lenoir County Instructional Technology Staff |
