Topic: What is GPS?

Supplementary material for use in lessons in the group of natural sciences (nature, biology, chemistry, geography, physics), additional classes, science clubs. It can serve as a resource for expanding knowledge, preparing students for science competitions.

Target group

Students of an elementary school (geography).

Core curriculum

Grade VI Geography
III. Lands and oceans on Earth: the distribution of lands and oceans, the first geographical expeditions. Pupil:

1. indicates the globe and map of the world: poles, equator, zero meridian and 180°, hemispheres, tropics and Arctic Circle;

2. lists the names of continents and oceans and indicates their location on the globe and world map, and determines their position relative to the equator and the prime meridian;
   VI. Geographical coordinates: latitude and longitude; mathematical and geographical location of points and areas; meridional and latitudinal extent. Pupil:

3. reads the latitude and longitude of selected points on the globe and on the map;

Grade VI
2. Orientation in the field. Pupil:
4) identifies on the plan and topographic map the place of observation and objects in the immediate vicinity, defines the mutual location of objects on the plan, topographical map and in the field;
12. Lands and oceans. Pupil:

1. indicates the globe: poles, equator, zero meridian and 180°, hemispheres, main directions and locates continents, oceans and determines their position relative to the equator and zero meridian;

2. indicates on the world map: continents, oceans, equator, zero meridian and 180°, poles;

General aim of education

Students read the latitude and longitude of selected points.

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• explain what they are and what their geographical coordinates are for;

• discuss how to read latitude and longitude;

• describe the principle of GPS operation.

Methods/techniques

• activating

  • discussion.

• expository

  • talk.

• exposing

  • film.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers;

• printed on A4 black and white maps of the world with a cartographic grid, colorful ribbons: purple and yellow;

• scissors;

• glue.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

• Volunteers get acquainted with the content of the abstract and prepare a knowledge quiz for their colleagues.

Introduction

• The teacher explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

Realization

• The teacher asks students who has used the GPS device and for what purpose? After answering, students read the GPS paragraph abstract from the abstract..

• The teacher asks students to read the paragraph Longitude and Latitude paragraph from the abstract. Then, using the graphic „Exercises” attached to the paragraph, they themselves wrote down the coordinates of all 6 points on the signed sheet, which after finishing they put on the teacher's desk..

• The teacher announces a movie. He instructs his pupils to write a research question and a hypothesis in the form provided in the abstract. Then he plays the video and the students note their observations and conclusions. The teacher points the person who shares his insights and explains the reasonableness of the conclusions noted.

• The teacher distributes printed maps of the world to students and turns the film back on. He asks pupils to do the job during the presentation..

• The teacher asks the pupils to do the exercises themselves again, saving the coordinates of all 6 points and compare them with previous results. The willing student writes on the board the coordinates of the indicated point, the students compare their results, discuss the reasons for the discrepancy..

• The teacher asks students to carry out the recommended interactive exercise themselves.

Summary

• The students, selected before the lesson, present their knowledge quiz related to the topic of the lesson. The class answers questions. The teacher assesses the activity and involvement of students.

• The teacher asks pupils to finish the sentence: Before the next lesson, I have to practice ....

Homework

• Develop a lap book containing issues learned during the lesson and bring your work to the next class.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

What is GPS?

In order to uniquely determine the location of any point on the globe, only two pieces of information is needed: which latitude through the selected point and on which meridian it is located. This information is geographical coordinates.

The first coordinate is longitude, that is, the dihedral angle between the meridian plane of 0° and the plane of the meridian passing through the given point. We read the longitude by indicating which meridian passes through the selected point and adding information about the hemisphere on which it is located. Geographic lengths increase from 0° on the Greenwich meridian to 180°. Longitude is described as the meridians, that is, moving east from the meridian of 0° to each value, we add the eastern hemisphere (East) or E, and moving westward from Greenwich we mark the next meridians as lying in the western hemisphere (towards the west ) or W. On the 180° meridian, we do not add direction because it lies, like the 0° meridian, at the border between the two hemispheres.

The second coordinate is latitude, ie. the angle between the line connecting the selected point with the center of the Earth and the equator plane. We can read latitude by specifying the value of the parallel passing through the selected point and on which hemisphere it is located. If in the north, at the number indicating the latitude, add N, and if in the south, then S. The equator has a latitude 0°, the north pole – 90°N, and the south pole – 90°S.

The ability to use geographic coordinates allows you to accurately locate each point on the globe. Knowing the geographical coordinates, you can precisely indicate the point in the terrain that suits them. You can also do the opposite. Knowing a place on the map, you can specify both its coordinates.

GPS is an abbreviation of Global Positioning System, which can be translated as a global system for determining coordinates. It is the oldest, largest, most important and the most accessible satellite navigation system. GPS uses data from satellites circulating in Earth's orbit, which provide each user with very precise information about its location on the globe. Radio signals sent to the receiver by four satellites closest to the given place are taken into account. The measurement of the time that these signals require to reach the receiver is the basis for calculations to determine geographical coordinates.

GPS receivers are more and more often used in cars, where on the basis of the position determination they display the correct part of the road map and can provide information helpful in reaching the designated destination.

• Knowing the point on the map, you can determine its geographical coordinates.

• Knowing the geographical coordinates, you can indicate the appropriate point on the map.

• A modern and accurate tool for determining geographical coordinates is GPS.

• Car navigation is also based on GPS.

• A smartphone, after installing the appropriate applications, also allows the use of GPS and maps for car navigation.