North Is Not Up!

Lynne H. HehrCenter for Mathematics and Science Education

Arkansas NASA Educator Resource CenterUniversity of Arkansas

lhehr@uark.edu

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

lhehr@uark.edu

www.uark.edu/~k12info/