Natural, Social and Cultural Sciences
Terrestrial Coordinates: exploring Planet Earth
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At the start of this video, click on “Spanish” in the menu “Caption settings” for Spanish subtitles. Watch the video as many times as you want.

How can we locate where we are on the Earth? We need a point of reference. Imaginary lines of latitude and longitude are drawn on maps to describe where places are on Earth. In the video the Equator and Greenwich Meridian lines are yellow.

The lines of latitude are parallel circles that go horizontally around the Earth. They indicate the position north or south of the Equator The Equator is the middle line that divides the Earth into two equal parts.

The lines of longitude go vertically from pole to pole. They indicate the position east or west of the Greenwich Meridian. The world’s time zones are set from here.

In the following activities we are going to:

  • learn more about terrestrial coordinates
  • find out about a human invention which can locate any point on the planet
  • learn about different monuments -and make a recording in Google Earth.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!


The GPS ( Global Positioning System).


A trip around the world.


Presentation and evaluation of the recordings.

RESOURCES

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Activity 1

The GPS ( Global Positioning System).

Image from http://www.iminweb.com

A GPS is used to find our exact position on the Earth. Drivers, sailors and hikers regularly use them for navigation and to avoid danger.

When travelling by car we reach our destination much faster thanks to these devices.

Many of you will have used a GPS. In this activity we will share our experiences and talk about the uses of a GPS.

In this sequence we will share our knowledge, experience and opinions about GPSs and also learn to value their use.

Continue reading!

Activity

If possible, bring a GPS to class. You can do some experiments, find some routes and talk about how it works.

Share your knowledge and experiences with the class and together try to answer these questions:

  • Why do we use GPSs?
  • Are they useful?
  • How do they work?
  • Have you used one?
  • What was your experience?
  • Do you have an anecdote about a GPS?

Rules for speaking in class:

  • Raise your hand to speak. Your teacher will tell you when it’s your turn. If you all speak at the same time you can’t hear your classmates’ experiences.
  • When a classmate is speaking, listen carefully. Even if you know what they are going to say, they deserve your attention as much as you deserve theirs.
  • Don’t talk too much. Time in class is limited. Contribute your important ideas and discard the rest.
  • Don’t remain silent. Contribute at least one idea or opinion. Everybody counts.
  • Don’t make fun of anyone. Being rude contributes nothing to a debate. If you respect your classmates, they will respect you.

After listening to all the contributions, write down the ideas and opinions. Open the attached file and answer the questions.

  • What is a GPS? Why do we use GPSs? How do they work? Explain what you know.

  • Explain an experience one of your classmates had with a GPS.
To find out more

We can mark a destination close to the school and go there using the GPS. In this way those students who haven’t used a GPS can experience it first hand.

Activity 2

A trip around the world. Part one.

Image from: http://viajetips.com

In the last activity you learnt about your classmates’ experiences with GPSs.

But, how does a GPS work? How is it possible for this small gadget to know our exact location and in which direction to go?

Here you will find out more about terrestrial coordinates, a system which can locate any point on the planet by a numerical sequence.

The GPS uses the system of coordinates to operate.

In this activity you will make a record of eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and understand the terrestrial coordinates system.

Latitude and Longitude

Many of you have played Battle Ships. This game consists of sinking your opponents ships using coordinates. For example, in the picture we can see a sunken ship in the coordinates H1 and H2 (in red) and a hit ship in the coordinates F10, G10 and H10 (in yellow).

In a similar way we use coordinates to locate a point on the Earth’s surface. One coordinate of latitude and another of longitude.



The latitude is the distance which exists between a point on the Earth’s surface and the Equator. It is measured in degrees, minutes and seconds. It is measured from 0 to 90º

The points found north of the Equator are called North (N) and the points found south of the Equator are called South (S).

The Poles North and south have a latitude of 90º N and 90ºS respectively.

For example the latitude of Brussels, Belgium is: Latitude : 50º50’45”N

Image from http://almez.pntic.mec.es/~jmac0005/ ESO_Geo/TIERRA/Fotos/LongLat.jpg

Image fromhttp://almez.pntic.mec.es/~jmac0005/ESO_ Geo/TIERRA/Fotos/LongLat.jpg

The longitude is the distance which exists between a point on the Earth’s surface and the Greenwich Meridian. It is measured in degrees, minutes and seconds. It is measured from East to West and from 0 to 180º.

So the points found east of the Greenwich Meridian are called East (E) and the points found west of the Greenwich Meridian are called West (W). p>

The poles North and South do not have longitude.

For example, the longitude of Brussels, Belgium is: Longitude: 4º21’20”E

With the longitude and latitude coordinates we can find a city, a mountain or an island in the middle of an ocean in the same way as a boat in the Battleships game.

These two coordinates indicate an exact point on the planet where a meridian and a parallel line cross. Thanks to these coordinates the GPS can operate correctly.

In this way the exact point to locate the city of Brussels is: Latitude: 50º50’45”N Longitude: 4º 21’20”E.

Activity

In this activity you are going to make a video to find a World Heritage monument. For this activity we will make groups of three or four people. Each group needs to locate a monument, write a short text about it, make a video and present it in class. For this activity we will use Google Earth.

Open Google Earth y familiarize yourselves with it. If you have never used Google Earth, look at this presentation to understand the navigation system. Do a few tests until you can use the program well.

In the tab View select the option Grid and deactivate the option Sidebar. Now you can see the Earth full of Meridians and Parallels showing the lines of longitude and latitude:

Image from Google Earth.

At the bottom of the screen you can see the coordinates of latitude and longitude. If you drag the mouse over the Earth you will see the coordinates change:

Using the coordinates in the table below, each group needs to find their monument in Google Earth. There are eight monuments, each one in a different country. They have all been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO because of their historical or architectural value. Let’s see if you can find them!

Remember what each coordinate means:

27º 10’ 29’’ N

First the degrees are indicated with the symbol º then the minutes with the symbol ‘ , and then the seconds with “.

The letter N means North.

This coordinate refers to latitude because it indicates a position North or South of the Equator.


78º 02’ 32’’ E

The degrees º, minutes ‘ and seconds “ are shown as above .

The letter E means East.

This coordinate refers to longitude because it indicates a position East or West of the Greenwich Meridian.

So you know what the letters S and W mean, don’t you?

Coordinates

27º 10’ 29’’ N

78º 02’ 32’’ E

41º 53’ 24’’ N

12º 29’ 32’’ E

40º 20’ 37’’ N

116º 00’ 05’’ E

33º 51’ 26’’ S

151º 12’ 55’’ E

28º 58’ 44’’ N

31º 08’ 01’’ E

48º 51’ 29’’ N

2º 17’ 38’’ E

43º 19’ 23’’ N

3º 01’ 00’’ W

40º 41’ 53’’ N

74º 02’ 39’’ W

You can use these references to mentally visualise the location of a coordinate:

  • At the Equator , latitude is always 0º.
  • Latitude increases when we move North or South of the Equator.
  • At the Greenwich Meridian, longitude is always 0º
  • Longitude increases when we move East or West of the Greenwich Meridian

When you find your monument, save it with a Placemark:

The monument will be added to your Places list so you can locate it easily whenever you want to.

Note: If you select the “3D Buildings” option, you can see the monument in three dimensions.

Important: You cannot use the “Fly to” option to find these monuments. Use your knowledge of Terrestrial Coordinates.

Activity 2

A trip around the world. Part two

In this second part, you will look for more information about your monument, organize it and record a short description.

Each group will look for information about their monument in Internet and write a short descriptive text. This text should be no longer than fifteen lines and needs to answer the following questions:

  • Where can you find this monument?
  • When was it built?
  • Who built it?
  • What is /was it used for?
  • What are its most important characteristics?

You can find this information in http://es.wikipedia.org .

Make your text clear. Use only words you know and ask for help to formulate your ideas. Use the following structure:

  • Introduction (one paragraph).
  • Development (one or two paragraphs).
  • Conclusion (one paragraph).

When you finish writing, read the text aloud with the members of your group. Make sure that the text is well structured and can be easily understood.

Now you are ready to make a video with Google Earth. Later, each group will present their video to the class and we will learn about the eight World Heritage Sites.

To record a video select the following icon from the top tool bar in Google Earth:

The recording buttons will immediately appear in the navigation window:

The left button starts the video recording and the right button starts the sound recording.

Some advice about recording: speak loud and clear. If you want to change the camera angle as you speak, do it slowly. If not, you will distract your audience.

Avoid sharp movements and excessive use of the zoom. If you can’t control the camara well, a static image is better. The idea is to present the monument not to demonstrate your navagation skills..

Remember, the written text is more important than the Google Earth images, so don’t try to make an action film.

To find out more

Activity: latitude, longitude and time zones.

Here you will find an activity to help you understand the concepts of longitude and latitude using a world map.

http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/ musicalplates3/es/actividad_latylong.shtml

Where in the World am I?

An explication about the concepts of longitude and latitude with animated images to understand the use of (+) and (-).

http://www.ciese.org/ciberaprendiz/ latylong/latylong.htm

Activity 3

Presentation and evaluation of the recordings

Image from Google Earth.

It’s time to present your videos.

In this activity you will see the work of all the groups. One by one, each group will present their monuments. Finally, we will evaluate the presentations and reflect on what we have learnt.

You will have the opportunity to present the monuments and evaluate the recordings.

Come on! Keep going!

Activity

One by one each group will present their recording in class. After each presentation, the rest of the groups will complete an evaluation sheet. This will help you to find out your classmates’ opinions and improve your work in the future.

Read the evaluation sheets with your group and plan three possible changes to improve your work. Write these improvements in the attached file.

Finally, reflect in class on what you have learnt about Terrestrial Coordinates. Download the following file.

Resourcess

In this sequence we will be using:

A word processor

Other applicationsb>

  • Google Earth. which allows you to travel virtually using satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings. http://earth.google.es/

Web References

Other resources

  • Microphone.

Help

Help
  1. Menu on left(in order from top to bottom): first page of the sequence (home) icon, letter size icon, print icon, help icon and index icon.
  2. Name of material and title of the section bar.
  3. Arrows for navigation (next or last page).
  4. Space for content.

Autor:

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Resources

In this sequence we will be using:

A word processor

Other applications

  • Google Earth which allows you to travel virtually using satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings. http://earth.google.es/

Web References

Other resources

  • Microphone.

Google Earth

Click on the arrow to continue: