Name of Lesson: Where are we on planet Earth?

Name: Megan Hensiek

Grade Level: Subject: Education Standards Addressed:
4th Social 4.1- Students demonstrate an understanding of the physical and human geographic features
Studies/History that define places and regions in California.
a. Explain and use the coordinate grid system of latitude and longitude to determine the
absolute locations of places in California and on Earth.

Overview & Purpose: Latitude and Longitude make up the grid system that helps us identify absolute, or exact locations on the
Earth’s Surface. It may be helpful to use latitude and longitude to identify specific locations, including landmarks. This lesson is
designed to help students understand the difference between the north, south, east and west.

Objectives Students will be able to: Materials Needed

1. Describe why lines of latitude and longitude may be helpful. 1. PowerPoint Presentation
2. Identify points of latitude and longitude. 2. Two Wooden sticks per/student
3.Determine the latitude and longitude of places they have visited or are 3. Tape
located at. 4. Black Marker
4. Determine exact locations of places on an atlas or spherical globe. 5. Eight labeled Locations on Paper
{ Ex) 0° latitude/longitude, 90 ° N,
90 ° S, 66.5° N, 66.5° S, 23.5° N,
23.5° S}
6. Eight given Locations { Ex)
Equator, Prime Meridian , Tropic of
Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic
Circle, Antarctic Circle, North Pole,
South}
7. Eight Spherical Globes/ Maps
8. Latitude and Longitude
Worksheets

Warm-up and/or 1. Have students discuss with their neighbor how we can tell a location is
Review North, South, East or West.
2. Introduce Vocabulary words and have students answer what they think it
means, even if the answer is wrong. Ex) degree, landmark, longitude, latitude.
 3. Have students write down anything they can remember that is displayed on
a map: World’s continents, major bodies of water, mountain ranges, rivers, all
countries, major cities. Discuss what else they may find on a map in relation to
location and geography.

Introduction/Presentati 1. Introduce the concepts of Latitude and Longitude: Hand each student a
on picture of the United States Map. Ask students to find the lines running across
(Intro provides the map both vertically and horizontally. Have them discuss what those lines
interest/motivation; may be used for.
Presentation, teacher 2. Reiterate what Latitude and Longitude is and why it is used: Explain to
introduces new students those lines on the map running vertically and horizontally are
information) referred to as Latitude and Longitude. Globes and maps display a system of
north-south and east-west lines, called Earth’s grid, that forms the basis for
locating points on the Earth.
3. Begin PowerPoint: Display a picture of the Earths Grid, explain Latitude is
the distance of that location north or south of the Equator. Ask who
remembers where or what the Equator is? Point to equator on PowerPoint
picture and explain the equator is an imaginary line drawn around the earth
equally distant from both poles, dividing Earth into Northern and Southern
Hemispheres (0°) (. Show students lines of Latitude on map. Explain that
latitude is measured in degrees Ex) 90 ° N/S. Next ask students now that
you know lines of latitude are what other directions are left? Longitude
measures distance East and West from Prime Meridian. Point to lines of
longitude on PowerPoint. Explain what and where the Prime Meridian is
located (0°)
4. Practice with students finding locations on maps
5. Reiterate Latitude is the distance of a location North or South, while
Longitude runs LOOONGGG up and down or Vertically.
Practice/Activity
(Describe the activity that
students will do to
reinforce this lesson)
1. Distribute two wooden sticks per person, piece of tape, and a black marker. Resources Needed/Used
Have students make a cross with their wooden sticks, and use the tape to
keep sticks in place. Have students write on the Horizontal Line Latitude and Latitude. (n.d.). Retrieved
N/S and on the back, have them write Equator 0°. Next on the Vertical Line February 23, 2017, from
http://www.maptools.com/tutorials/la
have students write Longitude E/W, and have them write on the back Prime t_lon/definitions
Meridian 0°.
2. Divide Class into eight groups: Give Each Group a Globe. Tape Eight Keller, Lori. “Location& Distance
on Earth- Latitude and
labeled Locations on the classroom walls in different locations (0° Longitude”. February 22, 2017
latitude/longitude, 90 ° N, 90 ° S, 66.5° N, 66.5° S, 23.5° N, 23.5° S).
3. Give Each Group a notecard with a specific location (Equator, Prime Tarbuck, E. J., & Lutgens, F. K.
(2015). Applications and
Meridian , Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle, investigations in earth science.
North Pole, South Pole) , have them find the location on the globe, once they Boston: Pearson.
found their degree of location, they may stand next to the labeled degree of
location on the wall.

Student Evaluation Distribute Latitude and Longitude Worksheet. Students must work in groups
or individually to find the degrees of latitude and longitude for the points and
locations given. Challenge students to find locations they have visited by
using an atlas or globe.

Contingency Plan If the PowerPoint fails; write Definitions on board. Proceed to draw lines of
latitude and longitude on board. Continue with lesson as Follows.

Teacher Self-Evaluation Assess how well the students are learning by asking them questions
pertaining to latitude and longitude at the end of the lesson. Ask them what
they found challenging about the lesson and make changes accordingly for
the following year. If students seem confused or stuck during the activities of
worksheet do a couple examples on the board.

Additional Notes: Observe any students who may not be participating in lesson and make sure they understand the concepts.