Educator’s Guide to a Hand Held GPS
Overview
This lesson is designed to introduce students to a hand-help GPS receiver, its features, and the basic
concept behind its function and use.
Grades and Subject Areas
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Recommended for students 5th grade and above.
Subject is relevant to geography, science, math, and physical education.
Objectives
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Students will have a basic understanding of the global position system.
Students will be able to determine the latitude/longitude of an object and record the position.
• Students will be able to navigate and use the basic features of a hand-help GPS receiver, such
as using the paging through screens, finding the map source, measuring distances between
geographical objects, use the trip odometer, mark and find waypoints, and reset defaults.
I Can Statements
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•
•
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I can accurately describe the global position system to a friend.
I can calculate my position in relation to distance objects on the map.
I can set a waypoint, find a waypoint, and reset data on a GPS.
I can use the trip computer to calculate speed, average speed, and direction.
Curriculum Connections
Alaska Content Standards
Technology
A.
A student should be able to operate technology-based tools.
1) Use technological tools for learning, communications, and productivity.
2) Manage and maintain technology tools.
David Brannan – January, 2011
C. A student should be able to use technology to explore ideas, solve problems, and derive
meaning.
1) Use technologies to observe, analyze, interpret, and draw conclusions.
2) Solve problems both individually and with others
E.
A student should be able to use technology to express ideas and exchange information.
5) Examine the role of technology in the workplace and explore careers that require the use
of technology;
7) Integrate the use of technology into daily living.
ISTE Student Standards (2007)
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and
practice legal and ethical behavior. Students:
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration,
learning, and productivity.
ISTE Teacher Standards (2008)
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to
facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both
face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
b. Engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems
using digital tools and resources.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative
professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge
to new technologies and situations.
Technology Integration
Hardware and Software Needs
1. Document camera
2. LCD projector
3. GPS receiver (no more than 3 students per receiver if possible)
Tips and tricks
1. Explain to students to hold still for 30 seconds to 1 minute before reading the handheld
GPS to get an accurate reading. Often times students will spin, turn, or walk while reading
before the GPS calculates fully.
David Brannan – January, 2011
2. Check that the units are using the proper units of degrees, minutes, and seconds. There
are several different units these GPS units can use for longitude and latitude, so for
consistency make sure they are all using the same units.
3. If you mark points on the GPS then later check those points on Google Earth, they may not
align exactly due to the handheld GPS and/or Google Earth maps.
Resources
Handouts or Downloads
1. Introductory GPS Lesson Outline
2. Introductory GPS Lesson Plan
3. Introductory GPS Activity
Web resources
1. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/gps.htm
David Brannan – January, 2011
Introduction to Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Lesson Plan
Prep Time
30 - 45 minutes
Prior to Lesson
Contact your Instructional Technology Teacher (ITT) to assist with the lesson. ITTs have
access to GPS kits and are willing to assist with this lesson on request.
On arrival, check each GPS unit legacy data (reset if necessary) and charge batteries.
Time Needed for Lesson
90 minutes
Step 1
________________________________________________________________________
Gather students as you usually do (meeting place, desk, etc.) for instruction on latitude
and longitude referencing images below (see source) and grid lines in Google Earth.
Image source: http://facweb.bhc.edu/academics/science/harwoodr/geog101/study/LongLat.htm
David Brannan – January, 2011
Your Global Address
Every location on earth has a global address. Because the address is in numbers, people
can communicate about location no matter what language they might speak. A global
address is given as two numbers called coordinates. The two numbers are a location's
latitude number and its longitude number.
Latitude (shown as a horizontal line) is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and
seconds of a point north or south of the Equator. Lines of latitude are often referred to
as parallels.
Teaching tip: It is easier to remember latitude as horizontal because your
mouth has to go wide like a smile when you pronounce the word.
Longitude (shown as a vertical line) is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and
seconds, of a point east or west of the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian. Lines of longitude
are often referred to as meridians.
Teaching tip: It is easier to remember longitude as vertical because your moth
has to go long-wise up & down to pronounce the word.
Distance between Lines If you divide the circumference of the earth (approximately
25,000 miles) by 360 degrees, the distance on the earth's surface for each one degree
of latitude or longitude is just over 69 miles, or 111 km.
How Latitude and Longitude Work Together
Using latitude and longitude is different from using a street address. Instead of having a
specific street address, latitude and longitude work with a numbered grid system, like
what you see when you look at graph paper. It has horizontal lines and vertical lines that
intersect. A location can be mapped or found on a grid system simply by giving two
numbers which are the location's horizontal and vertical coordinates; or, to say it
another way, the "intersection" where the place is located).
To precisely locate points on the earth's surface, degrees longitude and latitude have
been divided into minutes (') and seconds ("). There are 60 minutes in each degree. Each
minute is divided into 60 seconds. Seconds can be further divided into tenths,
hundredths, or even thousandths.
Source of information: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/LongitudeIntro.html
Step 2
________________________________________________________________________
Global Positioning Systems
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed
from a constellation of 24 active satellites and their ground stations.
David Brannan – January, 2011
GPS uses these "man-made stars" as reference points to calculate positions accurate to a
matter of meters. In fact, with advanced forms of GPS you can make measurements to
better than a centimeter.
Note of interest:
The U.S. Department of Defense developed the GPS system for 12
billion dollars in order to precision guide missiles.
How GPS Works
Each of these 3,000- to 4,000-pound solar-powered satellites circles the globe at about
12,000 miles (19,300 km), making two complete rotations every day. The orbits are
arranged so that at any time, anywhere on Earth, there are at least four satellites
"visible" in the sky.
Demo:
Watch an animated GIF on Wikipedia that shows how satellites are distributed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ConstellationGPS.gif
A GPS receiver's job is to locate four or more of these satellites, figure out the distance
to each, and use this information to deduce its own location. This operation is based on
a simple mathematical principle called trilateration. Trilateration in three-dimensional
space can be a little tricky, so we'll start with an explanation of simple two-dimensional
trilateration.
Source of Information: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/gps.htm
Step 3
________________________________________________________________________
If you have not already done so, pass out hand held GPS units to students.
Using a document camera, direct students to watch you demonstrate how to use the GPS
units to meet the learning targets.
Hand-held GPS Overview
Using a document camera and LCD projector project this image and/or your own GPS
unit on a screen for the class to view and follow along. Review the various components
on their own GPS unit, mainly on/off, page, up, down, enter and joysticks buttons.
Owner’s manual: http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/eTrexH_OwnersManual.pdf
David Brannan – January, 2011
Turn on the GPS and review the home
screen
•
GPS units may have difficulty locking onto
satellites inside a building. However, point out
the position accuracy, the constellation of the
satellites, the satellites’ signal, and current
position (coordinates).
With the page button navigate to the map screen
•
You can view the current elevation, time of the
day, and a default map with the current
location.
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Using the joystick you can determine distances
to other locations by pushing the white arrow
on the map.
•
Demonstrate how to zoom in/out the map and
change the scale.
David Brannan – January, 2011
With the page button go to the navigation screen
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View the current speed, distance to the
next turn, current time of the day, and
distance from route.
•
You can demonstrate the compass ring
with the bearing to the next turn.
With the page button navigate to the trip computer
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You can use the enter button to reset the stats.
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With the trip computer you can view distance traveled, maximum speed, the
amount of time you’ve been moving, average speed (total time), and view your
accumulated distance traveled (odometer).
With the page button navigation to the main menu
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The main menu leads to all main functions of the GPS.
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You can navigate to satellites status information, trip computer settings,
waypoints, travelled paths (tracks), manage routes, system setup, calendar,
calculator, stopwatch, and games (not recommend showing).
Source of GPS screen shots: http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/eTrexH_OwnersManual.pdf
Step 4
________________________________________________________________________
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Distribute GPS Skills Exercise Handout and lead students outside to the football
field, track, or large grassy area.
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Have students complete as many questions on the exercise sheet as possible
working in groups of 2 students.
David Brannan – January, 2011
Name _____________________________________________
Date ____ / ____ / ______
GPS Skills Exercise
1. What does GPS stand for? ___________________________________________________________.
2. Turn on the GPS unit with the lower right button. (TOP has the words ETREX at top)
What screen shows up? (What is the GPS doing?) _____________________________________.
3. Scroll through the pages with the upper right button. What screens do you have?
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
4. Using the map page: What is the scale at the lower left (what is the length of the bar)?
5. What direction is up on all maps? Hint, it starts with an N _____________________________.
6. Zoom onto the map (upper left button) to see the biggest map source scale. How many
miles to the ¼ inch is it? _____________________. This is all the detail there is but you
can over zoom.
7. Put the white pointer on the school. What are the elevation, latitude and longitude of
the school? __________________________________________________________________________.
8. How far is it to the closest river by the shortest distance? (Move the white arrow to that
point and read the distance in the upper right corner). _______________________________.
9. Use the toggle to move the curser down to the big river to see the next town. What is it?
10. How far is that town from us? _____________________ (Scroll through with the upper
right menu button to get back to the black arrow, when you are done).
11. Can you find Hawaii the same way? How far away is it? _______________________________.
Odometer page
12. Scroll to the odometer page (all the numbers). What information does the odometer
numbers page give you? _____________________________________________________________.
13. Clear the odometer. (Push the options button on the lower left side and reset, apply,
and ok.)
14. Change the screen to big numbers or small numbers. (Lower left button). What
information does the page give now? _________________________________________________.
Now Get Up and Move
15. What is your normal walking speed_____________ how fast can you run?
_____________________________________ (Big numbers odometer page works well for this).
16. Using the compass page, what direction you are walking? ____________________________.
David Brannan – January, 2011
To Make a Track
Note: The GPS automatically makes a track.
1. Zoom into the map page to see yourself walk. (You are at the black arrow and it is
pointing the direction you are going. The line is you walking)
2. Make a red track trail. (Go to main menu and select Tracks. Then select Setup and
change the color. Now walk around and make a track.
To Mark a Way Point
1. Mark a Waypoint at your location. (Go to main menu and select Mark. Scroll to the top
and select the waypoint number to re-name it). What did you name it? _________________
To Find a Point
1. Walk away from your waypoint or trade GPS’s with a classmate.
2. Go to Find on main menu and select “find” then “way points” and use the compass page
to find your way back. What location did you find? ___________________________________.
3. Move the white pointer to the location of your house. Mark the point. Use the find
function to make a line to it. Looking at the map and compass page –How far and in
what direction is your house? ________________________________________________________.
4. If you start walking, what is your ETA (estimated time of arrival) to your house?
5. How far is it to Anchorage? ______________________________ (Select find from main menu,
select cities or all points of interest. Push lower right button to type in Anchorage).
To Save Your Track
1. Select “Track from main Menu. Save, rename by selecting numbers on top of page,
select ok to quit typing and OK again at bottom of page to save.
To Clear Data
1. Clear tracks and waypoints; from the odometer numbers page - push the lower left
button and select clear, apply and ok.
2. Clear the navigation lines; from the map page push the lower left button and select Stop
Navigation
3. Turn off GPS by holding lower right button for three seconds.
David Brannan – January, 2011