Geocaching
Geocaching is like an amazing treasure hunt that people all over the world can enjoy.
At its simplest level, geocaching requires these 8 steps:
- Register for a free Basic Membership.
- Visit the "Hide & Seek a Cache" page.
- Enter your postal code and click "search."
- Choose any geocache from the list and click on its name.
- Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your GPS Device.
- Use your GPS device to assist you in finding the hidden geocache.
- Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its original location.
- Share your geocaching stories and photos online.
Educaching
While geocaching is super fun, it can also be educational! In this standards driven time it is not always easy to incorporate fun and creative activities such a geocaching. Here are some ways you could use geocaching while still meeting the standards:
- Use geocaching to demonstrate how to find the radius and circumference of a circle. You could have students get into small groups and practice with string or chalk on pavement. You could have students draw diagrams of the circumference around the geocache at different radius.
- Have students draw a map of the location of the geocache to practice their mapping skills. They could include cardinal and intermediate directions, a scale, and a legend. They could also write step-by -step directions for someone to help them find the geocache.
- Conduct a research project on how GPS devices work and present the information to fellow geocachers.
- Pick a class travel bug (a geocahce that moves all around the world) to follow. For math, you could have students track the number of miles it has traveled. For social studies, you could have students map the route the travel bug has taken and research the locations it has visited. For language arts, you could have the students write a narrative about the travel bug's experience.
- Have small groups of students create their own caches with clues about the book have selected to read in their reading group. Then let the small groups find each others caches and use the clues to guess which book their book their peers will be reading.
- Create a time capsule cache at the end of the year that can be opened at the end of the next year. Students could write reflections about their year, a bucket list, or advice to their future selves.
- Conduct a search for a geocahce in which students must correctly answer math problems or analogies to get the coordinates and clues.
- Have students make brochures or pamphlets about how to geocahce and let them use these materials to teach another class that has not participated in geocaching.
References:
Geocaching 101. (2014). Geocaching. Retrieved from http://www.geocaching.com/guide/