1.

TEKS:
113.18(b) 4 - Geography. The student understands the factors
that influence the locations and characteristics of locations of
various contemporary societies on maps and globes and uses
latitude and longitude to determine absolute locations. The
student is expected to:
(A) locate various contemporary societies on maps and globes
using latitude and longitude to determine absolute location:
...................................
(F) identify the location of major world countries such as Canada,
Mexico, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy Spain, Norway,
Sweden, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel,
India, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of
China (Taiwan), Japan, North and South Korea, Indonesia, and
Australia.
Objective: Students will learn a basic overview of the geographic
coordinate system referred to as Latitude and Longitude. Then
how to "pull" coordinates from a map and format them in the
proper sequence identifying several countries with their
respective geographic coordinates. Students will be able to
extract basic geographic coordinate data to within a plus/minus of
one (1) minute accuracy.
8. Ending Summary / Reflection: There we have geographic coords in a nutshell, a very broad brushed overview. An in depth
understanding of what they are and how to become really accurate can take months or years of practice to master. These were just
Lat/Long coordinates, there exist numerous other coordinate systems in use around the world today and thankfully, as you can see
from these other examples, GPS uses Lat/Long coordinates as its primary mode.
4. Opening Hook: (Set-up: Map positioned on the white board, classroom geographic coordinates written on the board, extra
coordinate systems (for closure) posted but covered)) Spin a story about how a student is stranded out in the middle of nowhere with
a lone cell tower barely giving a signal to your phone. A single tower will not allow 911 to triangulate where you are! How do you let
someone know where you are at? You can simply use the coordinate data sent to your phone by that single cell tower.
2. Big Understanding: ............................................................
Using longitude and latitude, it is now possible to accurately
describe any location on the Earth within a correct distance of only
a few inches. Your home or school probably has a street address.
Perhaps it looks something like 6088 Garden Gate Drive. These
numbers tell the mailman where to deliver your mail, and visitors
how to find you. While physical addresses are very useful,
longitude and latitude are more concise and accurate. A physical
address is based on a local system, understood and accepted only
by a small community. Longitude and latitude are accepted
worldwide by the entirety of humanity. If you know your longitude
and latitude, you can tell a distant pen pal exactly where you are
on this sphere-shaped planet.
3. Assessment Evidence: Students will plot center point geographic coordinates for two countries in their lesson handout.
5. Instructional Strategies/Activities: Use the white board to diagram the concepts of Lat/Long, Prime Merdian/International Date
Line, and of big to littledegrees to minutes to seconds, and proper format for listing coordinates.
6. Materials/Resources: Large world map, student map handouts, "extra" coordinate systems diagram, powerpoint slide
presentation (if available), cell phone for an example. ACCOMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS: Relief globe and large font map
sections will be used for vision impaired students, extra time can be allocated to LD students to grasp/apply concepts and
procedures. Use of a heavy card board base to hold maps for mobility restricted students is recommended.
7. Grouping Patterns: Whole class, individual student