GPS & Geocaching in (& OUT of) the Classroom

What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt that uses a GPS receiver to hide and seek containers (cache) all over the world.

Integrating GPS Technology into the Classroom, Jason Hubbard, www.educaching.com

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Curricular Connections

Art Education

• Geocache & Outdoor Photography Contest
• GPS Art: From Geocaching to Geodrawing
• Traveling Art - miniature sculptures travel the world
• TRY ALSO:  Environmental artists (Google Earth virtual tour)
  

Physical Education/Health

• GPS makes walking fun!
• Geocaching in Physical Education, Groundspeak forum
• Benefits of Geocaching - physical & social
• TRY ALSO: Nike+ App (run your cache route & log the distance, topography, calories burned, etc.) 

Library & Media

• Combining Geocaching & children's literature
• "Hide & Seek" - by Katy Grant
• List of Literary Coded geocaches
• Nine great Geocaching books
• TRY ALSO: Google Lit Trips; Google Lit Trips are free downloadable files that mark the journeys of characters from famous literature on the surface of Google Earth.

Music Education

• Top 50 songs for geocaching - can you think of more?  What about using lyrics as cache clues?
  
• List of musical puzzle geocaches (in Minesota, but you can create music caches in your own hometown!)
  
• Geocacher creates a "musical" treasure app

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RESOURCES

Educacher - This blog is for the Educacher…someone who sees the value of using geocaching and GPS in education. Our goal is to help build a community of users that share ideas and resources on this topic.

Geocacher University - step by step "how to" geocache

Geocache history

Geocaching & Education - tips & information to get started

Glossary of Terms - learn all the geo-lingo here!

GPS & Geocaching in Education - a collection of resources for integrating GPS technology across the curriculum

How Geocaching Works - the science behind GPS, by the How Stuff Works website

Lesson Plans:

• Collection of Geocache grant lesson plans

• GPS Lesson Plans & Links - printable worksheets & lesson ideas!

• Lesson Plan Template
• Lesson: groups record waypoint, calories, etc.

• NETS.4 GPS lesson plan template & resources
  

Tread Lightly - a guide to responsible Geocaching

Webquest: Basics of Geocaching - a great introduction to Geocaching for elementary age students

Videos: Quick videos to explain geocaching to kids (and grown ups!)

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GPS Devices

iPod/iPhone App
- Geocaching by Groundspeak

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Geomate Jr.

Geomate Jr. - class kits - everything you need to get started!  
Geomate Jr. Cheat sheet - by Apishere, www.mygeomate.com