Help
Hi,
I've been asked to teach some 6th graders in a local school about map and compass, GPS, and geocaching...I've taught kids about map and compass before, but not GPS/geocaching...
I've got about 1.5 hours in each of 4 sessions, and was thinking of setting out 8-10 small gps-findable ckeckpoints along a trail system near the school...
Thoughts...
Jamie - NFA
Page 1 of 1
Help needed! teaching GPS/geocaching to 6th graders
#2
Posted 04 October 2006 - 02:51 PM
I hid some geocoins for my last event.
I had all those who attended look for them after the CITO.
One of them was in 5th or 6th grade and really loved finding something.
It could be any type of token though and not a geocoin.
That is up to you.
You could also do some type of flagging waypoints as to make it easier for the youngsters.
As like teaching bearing from a point A to a point B to C.
In this way the compass and GPS can be used and taught in the same lesson.
I had all those who attended look for them after the CITO.
One of them was in 5th or 6th grade and really loved finding something.
It could be any type of token though and not a geocoin.
That is up to you.
You could also do some type of flagging waypoints as to make it easier for the youngsters.
As like teaching bearing from a point A to a point B to C.
In this way the compass and GPS can be used and taught in the same lesson.
#3
Posted 04 October 2006 - 05:13 PM
I think you should have each student that finds an object hand the GPS unit to the next person or at least don't use theirs to get ahead anymore. I find that certain kids are more careful and miss out on most of the fun.
One thing I did for a class I taught this summer was I hid plastic Easter eggs each with a word in it. Once found, the kids had to deciper the sentence that each of the words were a part of. It said, "Thank you for being such good students!" I hid 7 eggs that time.
One thing I did for a class I taught this summer was I hid plastic Easter eggs each with a word in it. Once found, the kids had to deciper the sentence that each of the words were a part of. It said, "Thank you for being such good students!" I hid 7 eggs that time.
#4
Posted 20 October 2006 - 03:45 AM
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
#5
Posted 22 October 2006 - 01:52 PM
At their age you don't need to get too technical on how a GPS works, just that it uses satelites that triangulate your location. I recently put on a Geocaching 101 Event Cache and we introduced about 30 muggles to geocaching....The kids relate to the word muggle from the Harry Potter movies...muggles don't have magical powers...We made muggle name tags and took the muggle off after they found the first of 10 event caches.
We talked about the different types of caches, traditional (micro, small, medium & large containers), virtual, event, etc.
We discussed the 2 things you need to geocahe. A geocaching account and a GPS.
In the class I tried to enforce the importance of studying how the cache owner took a lot time and effort in placing the cache. That they should ovserve how the cache was placed and putting it back the same way and not compromise the cache if there are muggles around.
We also covered the philosophy of it...game, sport or competition?
Travelbugs....it would be cool to have each student create a travel bug and track all of them, maybe have a race for miles or # of caches it enters....
I used geocaching.com & Geocaching University for reference.
They are the perfect age to start caching, it will be great!
We talked about the different types of caches, traditional (micro, small, medium & large containers), virtual, event, etc.
We discussed the 2 things you need to geocahe. A geocaching account and a GPS.
In the class I tried to enforce the importance of studying how the cache owner took a lot time and effort in placing the cache. That they should ovserve how the cache was placed and putting it back the same way and not compromise the cache if there are muggles around.
We also covered the philosophy of it...game, sport or competition?
Travelbugs....it would be cool to have each student create a travel bug and track all of them, maybe have a race for miles or # of caches it enters....
I used geocaching.com & Geocaching University for reference.
They are the perfect age to start caching, it will be great!
#6
Posted 28 October 2006 - 11:36 AM
NFA, on Oct 20 2006, 07:45 AM, said:
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
Jamie - NFA
Jaime,
If there is anything you could send me that will help me with a group of 4th grade girl scouts, I'd love it. We'll be doing something this spring.
Thanx
#7
Posted 10 February 2007 - 01:35 PM
Do you have any suggestions I am also starting to teach a group of sixth grade and eighth grade students the use of a gps for out door education. I have some maggellan gps 315 units, how much detail did you get into with them I want this to be fun and not to dry. Frankdom17
quote name='NFA' date='Oct 20 2006, 03:45 AM' post='2530233']
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
[/quote]
quote name='NFA' date='Oct 20 2006, 03:45 AM' post='2530233']
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
[/quote]
#8
Posted 14 February 2007 - 09:54 AM
[quote name='frankdom17' date='Feb 10 2007, 01:35 PM' post='2708274']
Do you have any suggestions I am also starting to teach a group of sixth grade and eighth grade students the use of a gps for out door education. I have some maggellan gps 315 units, how much detail did you get into with them I want this to be fun and not to dry. Frankdom17
quote name='NFA' date='Oct 20 2006, 03:45 AM' post='2530233']
Here's a PowerPoint that I borrowed w/permission and modified and add to- to suit my needs. Some types of caches may not be officially "geocache" type caches anymore, but we still use them on school grounds. If you think this will help your explaination and would like me to send you a copy to modifiy to suit your needs let me know.
Do you have any suggestions I am also starting to teach a group of sixth grade and eighth grade students the use of a gps for out door education. I have some maggellan gps 315 units, how much detail did you get into with them I want this to be fun and not to dry. Frankdom17
quote name='NFA' date='Oct 20 2006, 03:45 AM' post='2530233']
Here's a PowerPoint that I borrowed w/permission and modified and add to- to suit my needs. Some types of caches may not be officially "geocache" type caches anymore, but we still use them on school grounds. If you think this will help your explaination and would like me to send you a copy to modifiy to suit your needs let me know.
#9
Posted 19 March 2007 - 08:22 AM
Jamie...where can I download the PPT file to use with my class?
THanks! kathy
Another 6th grade teacher
Here's a PowerPoint that I borrowed w/permission and modified and add to- to suit my needs. Some types of caches may not be officially "geocache" type caches anymore, but we still use them on school grounds. If you think this will help your explaination and would like me to send you a copy to modifiy to suit your needs let me know.
[/quote]
THanks! kathy
Another 6th grade teacher
Here's a PowerPoint that I borrowed w/permission and modified and add to- to suit my needs. Some types of caches may not be officially "geocache" type caches anymore, but we still use them on school grounds. If you think this will help your explaination and would like me to send you a copy to modifiy to suit your needs let me know.
[/quote]
#10
Posted 02 July 2007 - 08:00 AM
One thing I did for a class I taught this summer was I hid plastic Easter eggs each with a word in it. Once found, the kids had to deciper the sentence that each of the words were a part of. It said, "Thank you for being such good students!" I hid 7 eggs that time. [/color] [/b]
[/quote]
That's a way cool idea! The eggs could be hidden around the school at a time when the kids aren't there.
[/quote]
That's a way cool idea! The eggs could be hidden around the school at a time when the kids aren't there.
This post has been edited by Bullsfan80586: 02 July 2007 - 08:01 AM
#11
Posted 15 July 2007 - 01:10 PM
I and fellow geocacher teacher in my school both teach 8th grade We do a combined activity. He's the science teacher and does the discussion of the GPS Unit, the environment and hiking and things like that leading up to the actual field trip. He sets ups some very easy caches right outside the building a few days before the trip for practice. I'm the math teacher and prior to the trip, discuss the mathematics of latitude and longitude. I bring geography into it also using national as well as world maps. On the day of the trip, we have the students already in groups of 2 or 3, based on the number of kids. A few days before the trip, the other teacher and I go to the local county park and set up a series of 10 caches in the woods but close enough to the parking area that we can monitor the students if necessary. Each group is given the coordinates of a cache along with a hint. When they find the cache, inside that cache are the coordinates for the next in the series along with a hint for that one. After about 1.5 hours, we take a break and then if any groups have not finished the 10, they finish them up. Throughout the caching, the other teacher and I give assistance to the groups that need it and walk from group to group checking things. After lunch, we take a hike along the trails in the park and find one of the caches hidden there. We have done this two years in a row and the kids have said that it was one of the best field trips ever. 
#12
Posted 22 July 2007 - 05:32 PM
Jamie- I too would like to see the PPT file, is it available to be viewed somewhere? I am 7th grade, there are several caches already in the trails behind my school and I would like to use this as a way to get out of the building! thanks 
#13
Posted 24 August 2007 - 02:14 PM
I am very interested in being able to see that powerpoint also. Our middle school has electives every Friday (an hour for a special class), and I'm thinking of maybe trying to get a Geocaching elective together for one of the quarters. I need some more info. & resources before I do though, so again, I'd love a chance to look at the powerpoint.
#14
Posted 07 September 2007 - 06:01 PM
Jamie,
That is awesome! I am a 5th grade special needs teacher and I have just recently become hooked on Geocaching. I have been thinking about teaching my students all about this wonderful activity and setting up some containers for them to find. Could you please share your information with me? My e-mail is: mhartfield@henry.k12.ga.us Thanks so much.
M Hartfield
That is awesome! I am a 5th grade special needs teacher and I have just recently become hooked on Geocaching. I have been thinking about teaching my students all about this wonderful activity and setting up some containers for them to find. Could you please share your information with me? My e-mail is: mhartfield@henry.k12.ga.us Thanks so much.
M Hartfield
NFA, on Oct 20 2006, 03:45 AM, said:
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
#15
Posted 09 September 2007 - 03:37 PM
Jamie -
I am suppose to give a lecture and then demonstration this Thursday to a bunch of 5th graders. Any suggestions on what has worked and not worked for you would be welcome. Thanks!
I am suppose to give a lecture and then demonstration this Thursday to a bunch of 5th graders. Any suggestions on what has worked and not worked for you would be welcome. Thanks!
#16
Posted 12 September 2007 - 06:54 AM
Does anyone have the ppt slides that were referenced in this thread? If so, I would like to get a copy as well. PLMK
#19
Posted 13 September 2007 - 06:10 PM
Quote
What GPS units (include model) do all of you use?
We have access to 24 eTrex Yellows from the Botanical Gardens Education Center.
#20
- EarthCaches Forum Moderator
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Posted 13 September 2007 - 06:48 PM
Iowa Tom, on Sep 12 2007, 07:39 AM, said:
What GPS units (include model) do all of you use?
My school finally found the $$ for 12 Garmin Legends, and an Indiana cacher recently donated his yellow eTrex to the cause as well. Plus I kept our two Legends when we upgraded, and I take those in when I need them. That's almost enough for my classes to pair up and use them (I really need about 4 more to cover the classes, and I expect I'll need a few spares eventually).
They have all the features the kids really need to learn the basics.
#21
Posted 16 September 2007 - 05:15 PM
I recently borrowed 10 yellow Garmin eTrex units for an activity. I hid several film cans and each can had a coord for the next can. I gave them written instructions about how to clear all the previous waypoints, add a new one and modify it until it matched the coord of the first film can. From there the process would be a little quicker.
This was a contest at a retreat. The kids varied from grades 9 to 12. I wasn't surprised that only the 11th and 12th graders were successful. I found that clearing the memory and adding and modifying a single waypoint was an initial process that involved pressing buttons at least 21 times. That counts turning the unit on.
Does anyone else find that using the low end models of GPSr's is frustrating in the beginning? The high end Magellan that I use is a dream machine compared to the units we used.
-it
This was a contest at a retreat. The kids varied from grades 9 to 12. I wasn't surprised that only the 11th and 12th graders were successful. I found that clearing the memory and adding and modifying a single waypoint was an initial process that involved pressing buttons at least 21 times. That counts turning the unit on.
Does anyone else find that using the low end models of GPSr's is frustrating in the beginning? The high end Magellan that I use is a dream machine compared to the units we used.
-it
#22
Posted 17 September 2007 - 03:04 AM
I found the eTrex a little harder to cold enter a point especially with the buttons on the side. But take a look at the Garmin GPS 60 series and you will find them just as easy if not easier then the Magellan units. With the buttons below the screen it makes it very easy. We have had students cold enter points with them down to 3rd graders without to much of a problem. At $135 for the GPS 60, you are getting a nice unit with a better antenna system.
Ed
Ed
#23
Posted 12 October 2007 - 07:00 PM
http://web.telia.com/~u32007998/geocache/e...scache_eng.html
they can get some online practice here - homework?
PPT based on ppt by wisconsin geocache org. highly detailed use of GPS visuals
http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/simpson/GPS%2...hing%202005.ppt
PPT inspiring ideas for teachers by Sheryl Crain - you could adapt it
http://www.vickiblac...wer%20point.ppt.
Other ideas - this is one topic just made for involving the family - send a letter home mentioning what you are up to and you may well find some active cachers who can help out especially with younger grades.
Stamps and stickers - this is another quick way for signing a logbook if you have teams and if you put self inking a stamp or sticker roll in each cache they can log the find on their hands, faces, clothes .... or a work sheet.
Trick or treat - Include spy ink secret coordinates ( write it under the lid ) and a blacklight torch in one for a special cache with all the sweets inside ...... hide a couple of older kids to 'supervise' ( optional extra: in scary masks
) who jump out from behind the bushes and take photos 
they can get some online practice here - homework?
PPT based on ppt by wisconsin geocache org. highly detailed use of GPS visuals
http://www.uwlax.edu/faculty/simpson/GPS%2...hing%202005.ppt
PPT inspiring ideas for teachers by Sheryl Crain - you could adapt it
http://www.vickiblac...wer%20point.ppt.
Other ideas - this is one topic just made for involving the family - send a letter home mentioning what you are up to and you may well find some active cachers who can help out especially with younger grades.
Stamps and stickers - this is another quick way for signing a logbook if you have teams and if you put self inking a stamp or sticker roll in each cache they can log the find on their hands, faces, clothes .... or a work sheet.
Trick or treat - Include spy ink secret coordinates ( write it under the lid ) and a blacklight torch in one for a special cache with all the sweets inside ...... hide a couple of older kids to 'supervise' ( optional extra: in scary masks
) who jump out from behind the bushes and take photos
#25
Posted 02 November 2007 - 11:42 AM
Don't tell them the location of a "Real" cache but you should set up rocks wit paint or something with a code and they have to write it down.
#26
Posted 05 November 2007 - 06:17 AM
This was exactly what I was looking for, as I am teaching along with the science teacher about GPS and caching! Good information on here.
#27
Posted 29 January 2009 - 06:20 AM
NFA, on Oct 20 2006, 04:45 AM, said:
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
#28
Posted 29 January 2009 - 06:25 AM
NFA, on Oct 20 2006, 04:45 AM, said:
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
I would be interested in seeing your documents and teaching your program.
#30
Posted 19 November 2009 - 02:56 PM
NFA, on Oct 20 2006, 03:45 AM, said:
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
#31
Posted 19 November 2009 - 03:04 PM
I taught a 3 week summer school class and one of the activities the kids found fun was Caching clue. I hid all of the cards except 1 weapon, 1 room and 1 person. Then used a variety of hides for all of the other cards...magnetic boxes, in trees, camo, easy and hard. There was a small prize for the winning team, but they all seemed to enjoy it.
NFA, on Oct 20 2006, 03:45 AM, said:
Well...we went out yesterday in a light rain with 12 students and a couple of teachers...all of them novices...and everyone had an awesome time...
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
I set up 4 separate course on a looping trail (A ,B, C, and D) with 5 waypoints for each group. Each group had a GPS (preloaded with their waypoints) and a sheet with waypoint hints and space to color in a box for each container they visited. The containers all had different colored crayons, so that groups could prove that they had found them. 2 groups started at one end of the loop, and 2 groups started at the other end. The caches were staggered enough that while we occasionally saw other groups, we weren't in site of them the whole time, and so that any given kid can come and participate in this activity 4 times without ever looking for the same container.
Besides the 5 waypoints for containers that each group had programmed into their GPS, everyone had our meeting location and 3 bonus caches near our pickup point...this was great as a safety device, and as a motivator to get them back to the pick-up area in time for our bus-ride home. 2 of the bonus caches were simple containers with crayons (like the other containers) to prove that it had been found...the 3rd cache was an actual geocache, filled with trade-items and a logbook for students to sign...so that they could get a feel for what a real geocache was like...
Out of 23 caches, our groups found 22...not bad for a bunch of 11 year-olds...
Now that I have the system worked out, and the documents all generated and tested, I'm excited to reproduce and share this activity!!!
Jamie - NFA
#32
Posted 06 August 2010 - 09:52 AM
If anyone is still looking for a Geocaching curriculum, I wrote one last year for a graduate school project.
You can find it here: http://dianemain.wee.../edtec-572.html
Diane
"Dowbiggin"
You can find it here: http://dianemain.wee.../edtec-572.html
Diane
"Dowbiggin"
#33
Posted 06 August 2010 - 05:24 PM
[font=Times New Roman] I am a 6th grade teacher and I personally geocache. Last school year I taught my class how to use GPS to find waypoints that I had hidden film canisters. They did a great job, however, I have 36-40 students with one school GPS. How can I acquire more GPS's for my school? These devices can be quite expensive as we all know.
BlondMonkey
BlondMonkey
#34
Posted 15 August 2010 - 10:31 AM
You may want to look into find grant funding. Grants that seek to put technology into students' hands would be the way to go. That's how I funded the purchase of 20 Garmin eTrex Venture HC units a couple of years ago.
BlondMonkey, on Aug 6 2010, 06:24 PM, said:
[font=Times New Roman] I am a 6th grade teacher and I personally geocache. Last school year I taught my class how to use GPS to find waypoints that I had hidden film canisters. They did a great job, however, I have 36-40 students with one school GPS. How can I acquire more GPS's for my school? These devices can be quite expensive as we all know.
BlondMonkey
BlondMonkey
#35
Posted 25 September 2012 - 01:17 PM
I work with 6th grade in our local school district and teach them how to use the GPS.
I go in and spend an hour teaching them the basics of how to use it and then get them outside finding places on the school grounds as a large group.
Then the teacher works with them more in smaller groups reminding them how to use it and having them find other location pre-programmed in the the units on the school grounds. They normally will practice with the units 3 to 4 times before they come out for their field trip event.
Then they come to the park where I work and in small groups use the GPS's to find tree's they then have to identify.
The kids love it and do a great job at it.
I have also done with 5th grade a mock Geocaching activity where I taught them the basics of how to use the units, helped them find one temporary geocache and then turned them loose in small groups finding more over an hour. They had fun.
I also did an Easter Egg Hunt with this same class. That was lots of work setting it up, but the kids had lots of fun!
Good luck with your teaching.
I go in and spend an hour teaching them the basics of how to use it and then get them outside finding places on the school grounds as a large group.
Then the teacher works with them more in smaller groups reminding them how to use it and having them find other location pre-programmed in the the units on the school grounds. They normally will practice with the units 3 to 4 times before they come out for their field trip event.
Then they come to the park where I work and in small groups use the GPS's to find tree's they then have to identify.
The kids love it and do a great job at it.
I have also done with 5th grade a mock Geocaching activity where I taught them the basics of how to use the units, helped them find one temporary geocache and then turned them loose in small groups finding more over an hour. They had fun.
I also did an Easter Egg Hunt with this same class. That was lots of work setting it up, but the kids had lots of fun!
Good luck with your teaching.
#36
Posted 28 March 2013 - 01:26 PM
Hi. I teach maths and gifted students from a variety of year levels (age 8 to 12 years of age) at a local area school. I LOVE geocaching and thought I would try a version of it at school with some of my classes. They did not have the technology, so I did math-caching with them as a version of geo-caching.
I photocopied a map of the school and divided it into a grid with about 12 to 18 lines on each axis which I labelled. I then hid about 27 caches around the school. On a separate piece of paper I gave the name of the cache, the co-ordinates using the grid on the map, and a cryptic hint. The hints often involved having to solve a maths problem then translate the answer into a word to get the hint. On the map grid I only wrote whole numbers, but I used decimal co-ordinates so the kids had to estimate where the cache was.
It was interesting to see that the kids, though bright, sometimes struggled to interpret the map with the actual physical buildings in the school. Some also struggled to understand the hint. However they LOVED doing it and even spent their lunchtimes looking for the ones they ran out of time to do in my lessons. As I put many of the caches on the cross-country course, it was good physical exercise for them too.
I asked them which were their favourite ones, and usually it was the ones that were either physically challenging to get (one where they had to jump or ride piggy-back to reach the cache) or the ones where they had to solve something first.
Two of the caches went missing completely and one of them was accidentally damaged. I thought that was not too bad considering there are 1500 kids at the school, although only about 80 kids from my classes participated.
After they had found all 27 of them, they had to create some caches of their own. I encouraged them to find good places to hide it, cryptic clues, accurate co-ordinates and a bit of a challenge. They then gave the clues to their class-mates to find.
The last lesson involved getting the kids to go and collect the caches so I could use them again next year. It was a very successful unit and I will repeat it again this year.
I encourage any teachers or school volunteers out there to do this in their school. It was fun to set up and when the kids were out there looking, I had the time to get on with other work.
I photocopied a map of the school and divided it into a grid with about 12 to 18 lines on each axis which I labelled. I then hid about 27 caches around the school. On a separate piece of paper I gave the name of the cache, the co-ordinates using the grid on the map, and a cryptic hint. The hints often involved having to solve a maths problem then translate the answer into a word to get the hint. On the map grid I only wrote whole numbers, but I used decimal co-ordinates so the kids had to estimate where the cache was.
It was interesting to see that the kids, though bright, sometimes struggled to interpret the map with the actual physical buildings in the school. Some also struggled to understand the hint. However they LOVED doing it and even spent their lunchtimes looking for the ones they ran out of time to do in my lessons. As I put many of the caches on the cross-country course, it was good physical exercise for them too.
I asked them which were their favourite ones, and usually it was the ones that were either physically challenging to get (one where they had to jump or ride piggy-back to reach the cache) or the ones where they had to solve something first.
Two of the caches went missing completely and one of them was accidentally damaged. I thought that was not too bad considering there are 1500 kids at the school, although only about 80 kids from my classes participated.
After they had found all 27 of them, they had to create some caches of their own. I encouraged them to find good places to hide it, cryptic clues, accurate co-ordinates and a bit of a challenge. They then gave the clues to their class-mates to find.
The last lesson involved getting the kids to go and collect the caches so I could use them again next year. It was a very successful unit and I will repeat it again this year.
I encourage any teachers or school volunteers out there to do this in their school. It was fun to set up and when the kids were out there looking, I had the time to get on with other work.
#37
- Education Forum Moderator
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Posted 28 March 2013 - 06:19 PM
Bridgeaway,
Can you write this up as a lesson plan, give some of the map examples and add it as a file to share here? You can add doc files and share the lesson plan. That would be great if you could
Mark Case
Education Forum Moderator
Can you write this up as a lesson plan, give some of the map examples and add it as a file to share here? You can add doc files and share the lesson plan. That would be great if you could
Mark Case
Education Forum Moderator
#38
Posted 19 April 2013 - 07:13 PM
markcase, on 28 March 2013 - 06:19 PM, said:
Bridgeaway,
Can you write this up as a lesson plan, give some of the map examples and add it as a file to share here? You can add doc files and share the lesson plan. That would be great if you could
Mark Case
Education Forum Moderator
Can you write this up as a lesson plan, give some of the map examples and add it as a file to share here? You can add doc files and share the lesson plan. That would be great if you could
Mark Case
Education Forum Moderator
#39
Posted 19 April 2013 - 07:14 PM
Sure. I'll try attaching a PDF of my lesson plan. However the maps were hand-drawn and so I can't attach them.
#40
Posted 19 April 2013 - 07:40 PM
Math-caching.pdf (275.8K)
Number of downloads: 11
markcase, on 28 March 2013 - 06:19 PM, said:
Bridgeaway,
Can you write this up as a lesson plan, give some of the map examples and add it as a file to share here? You can add doc files and share the lesson plan. That would be great if you could
Mark Case
Education Forum Moderator
Can you write this up as a lesson plan, give some of the map examples and add it as a file to share here? You can add doc files and share the lesson plan. That would be great if you could
Mark Case
Education Forum Moderator
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