north is not up! lynne h. hehr center for mathematics and science education arkansas nasa educator...
TRANSCRIPT
North Is Not Up!
Lynne H. HehrCenter for Mathematics and Science Education
Arkansas NASA Educator Resource CenterUniversity of Arkansas
How this talk got started…
Misconceptions
In our speech…
“I’m going up to Anchorage…down to Pensacola.”
Altitude is not the same thing as Direction!
In our learning…
Which way does water flow?
“Rivers can’t flow north, east or west”… …why?…
“because all rivers flow south”… …why?…“because south is down.”
In our teaching…
Lesson plan directions:Students, today we will be looking at maps. Position your map so that north is up and south is down.
? Don’t we really mean…north is at the top of the page and south is at the bottom of the page? If so, then why don’t we say that?
Why even have directions?
Tools for travel and location…
CompassGPS
World Divisions...we all know these
LatitudeLongitude
Geographic North…ok, this is easy, too
StaticMeasurable by latitude and longitude
A definite point on a map
Magnetic North…huh?
DynamicChanges from time to time
Earth’s rotation/revolution, core convection
Declination – must make corrections forChanges from location to location Closer to magnetic north, angle is smaller Further away, angle increasesDescribed as either easterly or westerlyFound on maps
Easterly and Westerly declination
Compass DemonstrationUsing:
Needle magnetized by magnetCork with needle Water and container for floating magnetized needle
Gyroscompass is a free floating compass used by ships and airplanes – allows for the movement.
Get the Point? N
S
EW
NE
SE
NW
SW
0 or 360
180
90270
45
135
315
225
What do the points mean in degrees?
Activity 1 – Globe Toss
After everyone has had a turn,
In what hemispheres (N & E, N & W, S & E or S & W) is your right thumb?
After everyone has had a turn,
In what hemisphere (E or W) is your right thumb?
In groups of 6, toss ball and catch Material each group needs: inflated plastic globe
In what hemisphere (N or S) is your right thumb?
How to read a compass…Overhead compassIndividual compasses
Activity 2 – Plod and PlotIn groups of 6, use compass bearing and distance to
outline 1 of 5 “floor” shapesscale the shape to a paper drawing
6 meter space from which to plod and plot
Materials each group needs:Rolled up meter tapeDirectional compassCoordinate sheet with bearings/distanceCrepe paper rollsMasking tapeTransparent compass/360 protractorScale drawing sheet
Correlation to Science, Math and Social Studies…
Angles measured in degrees (protractor)Make a line (actually a ray)Heading with direction and line (ray) Compass bearer – vertex of two rays
Group Roles1 member – directional compass bearer standing at Target Zero
hold compass at center of 6 meter line, give bearings and distance
2 members – measurers use paper meter tape to locate distance
1 member – point/flag bearer and recorder mark the spot by planting labeled flag on points
3 members – shapers use crepe paper and masking tape make the shape of what’s being formed
Making mini dot-to-dot pictures
Using protractor and readings
Mark bearing first, then use ruler for distance
Lightly draw lines to point – mark point
Connect the dots for the mini picture
Activity 3 – Treasure Hunt
After reading, Peter PanUsing treasure map marked with symbols created ahead of time, pairs of students
use directions to locate keys hidden on campus.Once all keys are found, treasure chest is opened by one that works. All share in candy treasure.
Activity 4 – Treasure photosGiven directions and bearings to find spots around campus –
Use digital camera to take picture Use GPS unit to take latitude/longitude
Activity 5 – Treasure HuntUsing magnetic compass and meter tape, students will locate an assigned landmark.
1 member – choose beginning point - remain in original spot check final position relative to landmark
7 members – follow one clue, in order of direction sheet
AIMS Teacher guides: Through the Eyes of the Explorers Finding Your Bearings
Materials to takeInflatable globe with web/contact information attached.Use website to download all lessons.
North Is Not Up!
Lynne Hehr
www.uark.edu/~k12info/
