ALEX Learning Activity

  

Which Direction? Latitude and Longitude

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Jacquelyn Deese
System:Mobile County
School:J E Turner Elementary
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2404
Title:
Which Direction? Latitude and Longitude
Digital Tool/Resource:
Longitude and Latitude Meaning Definition for Kids-YouTube
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This activity uses YouTube as its digital resource. "Longitude and Latitude Meaning Definition for Kids" is a video that explains the definitions of latitude and longitude. The students will also engage in a Quick Write about the video relating to our essential question, What do the geographical terms latitude and longitude mean? Afterward, the students will participate in a hands-on activity.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Social Studies
SS2010 (2010)
Grade: 2
Living and Working Together in State and Nation
5 ) Differentiate between a physical map and a political map.

Examples: physical—illustrating rivers and mountains

political—illustrating symbols for states and capitals

•  Using vocabulary associated with geographical features, including latitude, longitude, and border
Unpacked Content
Strand: Geography
Course Title: Living and Working Together in State and Nation
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Identify states, continents, oceans, the equator and other geographic features on maps, globes, and technology resources.
  • Use map elements to locate and describe features on maps, globes, and technology resources.
  • Use appropriate terminology, including directions and intermediate directions, to describe locations on maps, globes and technology resources.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • differentiate
  • geographical features
  • physical map
  • political map
  • geography
  • latitude
  • longitude
  • border
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • The difference between political and physical maps and the information that can be gained from each.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Select the most appropriate map type to gather needed information.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • There are differences between a physical map and a political map and the appropriate uses of each.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
SS.AAS.2.5- Show students how to locate geographical features, including latitude, longitude, and border on a map.
English Language Arts
ELA2021 (2021)
Grade: 2
46. Gather and use research to answer questions to complete a research product.

a. Create topics of interest for a research project.

b. Create questions to gather information for a research project.

c. Find information from a variety of sources.

Examples: books, magazines, newspapers, digital media

d. Define plagiarism and explain the importance of using their own words.
Unpacked Content
Teacher Vocabulary:
46.
  • Gather
  • Research
  • Questions
46a.
  • Create
  • Topics
  • Research project
46b.
  • Questions
46c.
  • Variety of sources
46d.
  • Plagiarism
Knowledge:
46. Students know:
  • Information must be gathered from a variety of sources, and the information can be used to answer questions.
46a.
  • A topic of interest must be selected before beginning a research project.
46b.
  • Generating questions and finding information to answer those questions is an important component of a research project.
46c.
  • A variety of sources can be used to find information and answer research questions.
46d.
  • Plagiarism is presenting someone else's words or ideas as their own without crediting the source.
Skills:
46. Students are able to:
  • Gather and use the research to answer questions and create a research product.
46a.
  • Generate a list of interesting topics for a research project.
46b.
  • Create questions and gather information to answer those questions to complete a research project.
46c.
  • Find information to answer research questions using a variety of sources, such as books, magazines, newspapers, or digital media.
46d.
  • Define plagiarism.
  • Explain the importance of using their own words in their writing.
Understanding:
46. Students understand that:
  • A research product requires gathering information from a variety of sources and using the research to answer questions.
46a.
  • Creating topics of interest prepares them for the writing process.
  • By creating topics of interest for a research project, they are completing the brainstorming part of a research project.
46b.
  • Asking questions helps get information for their research projects.
  • Creating questions helps guide their research and that questions may be changed or added based on answers to previous questions.
46c.
  • Information can come from a variety of sources.
  • They should use different sources to gather information for a research project.
46d.
  • It is important to use their own words and ideas in writing and/or presentations.
Learning Objectives:

-Students will be able to define and use the geographical terms latitude, equator, and longitude.

-Students will be able to label latitude and longitude on a model of the world.

-Students will gather information from the provided video to answer the essential question.
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage, During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

Introduce the essential question, "What are the geographical definitions of latitude, longitude, and equator?"

Show the video.

After viewing the video, ask the students to participate in a Quick Write in their Reflection Journal answering the essential question. Give the students 3 minutes and allow sharing time.

The teacher should define the terms by stating latitude are imaginary lines that run east to west (lat lays flat) and longitude are imaginary lines that run north to south (long is ready to launch). The equator is an imaginary line that runs parallel to the poles in the center of our world. Tell the students we use these geographical terms to find specific locations in our world.

Next, the teacher can model these imaginary lines by using an orange (fruit). With a black marker show the students by drawing lines horizontally on the orange. Explain these lines represent the latitude lines. Next, with your green marker draw one horizontal line around the middle or center of the orange. Explain that this is the equator. Now peel the orange and draw the students' attention to the seams between each orange slice that run vertically. Explain that these lines represent the longitude lines.  

Pass out the paper plates and have students draw these lines on the plate using the different color markers (Longitude-black, Latitude- red, and equator- green). Students should also label these lines. In closing the students can practice naming each labeled part.
Assessment Strategies:

The teacher can asses by using teacher observation, check of reflection journals where they are asked to answer the essential question, and by evaluating the finished project that is labeled. The teacher will check the journal and the labeled paper plate to ensure students were able to use the terms latitude and longitude correctly. When checking the journal, the teacher should also be sure students used the information gathered from the video to answer the essential question correctly. 
Advanced Preparation:

Interactive whiteboard with the video link ready for presentation (internet and sound capabilities required)

Orange

Paper plates (for each student)

Red, black, and green markers or crayons (for each student)

Vocabulary words written on strips for word wall 
Variation Tips (optional):

The teacher could give each student an orange (fruit) for the hands-on activity instead of using paper plates.

Write the vocabulary words on the board or add to a word wall during the lesson as a reference for the students.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: equator, geographical terms, geography, latitude, longitude