Objectives
- Students will explain the term "Global Positioning System" (GPS).
- Students will describe how GPS technology helps farmers examine fields
for crop yield, crop damage and how it assists in mapping soil conditions.
Activity Summary
Students will read the background
information about Geographic Information Systems and Global Positions
Systems.
After reviewing the background information, students will read the story
about a boy named David who attached a GPS receiver to his bicycle
as he mapped a bike route around his farm and discuss the following question:
What ways do farmers use GPS?
If possible, bring a GPS receiving unit into the classroom, and discuss
other applications of this technology with students.
Student can view where they live from space by experimenting with different
Earth Observing Systems that
are available on various Web sites.
Extension Activity
Since this is rapidly evolving technology, students can search for additional
current resources on the WWW using the following search terms:
(global position* system*) or gps
(geographic* information* system*) or gis
(satellite* with (image* or survey* or data or map* or photograph*
))
((precision) NEAR (farming* or agriculture*))
Teacher Resources
About NASA'S EOS
The Earth Observing System (EOS) consists of a science component and a
data system supporting a coordinated series of polar-orbiting and low
inclination satellites for long-term global observations of the land surface,
biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans.
NASA Global Change Master
Directory
Includes links to how global change is affecting agriculture.
NASA
Global Change Teacher Resources
Visible
Earth
A searchable site designed by NASA that includes images, visualizations,
and animations of the Earth.
View Above
Earth
This site provides images of any place on the earth. If you know the latitude
and longitude of a location, then you can view it.
View from
Satellite
To view the Earth as currently seen from a satellite in Earth orbit, choose
the satellite from a list and press the "View Earth from Satellite"
button.
Teacher
Page: NASA's Earth Observing System
Includes educational links and publications from the EOS program, Ask
an Earth Scientist section, and explanations of terminology used.
The EOS Education Project utilizes
emerging technologies such as map, image, and document services to delivery
geospatial and multimedia information directly into the classroom.
An Introduction
to Remote Sensing GIS/GPS
NASA Lesson Plans
A Global View
of the Earth - A Landsat 7 Teacher's Kit
Curriculum Materials for 5th to 8th Grade Level Students
Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change
Three lesson plans
(3rd-5th grade) from the Korn for Kids section of the National Corn Growers
Association
Lesson Plan
- A Map is Worth a Thousand Words
Lesson Plan
- Yield Map Math
Lesson Plan
- Satellite Science
Using GPS for Math, Science
& Social Studies
Discussion group for educators who are integrating the use of GPS and
mapping technology into their state curriculums for math, science and
social studies.
Classroom Applications
of GPS and GIS
Includes links to GPS WebQuests and projects and GPS/GIS lesson plans.
Viewing
Earth from Space
Showcases NASA's educational products, websites and missions that highlight
various images of Earth. Included is a listing of missions that research
Earth's various attributes - land, water, air/atmosphere - as well as
a list of multimedia resources available through the Center of Resources
for Educators (CORE).
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Teacher's Overview
