Geocaching 101:
Making
Connections to
Your
Curriculum
Conni Mulligan
NC DEN LC
connimulligan@gmail.com

Background
GPS
(Global Positioning System)
“Space-based radio navigation system
consisting of 24 satellites orbiting the Earth that
transmit a signal to users, allowing them to
determine their precise location on the surface
of the Earth.”
–USAF, Lt. Col. Roger Hunter

Background
GPS in the Classroom
• The Global Positioning System
(GPS): A Technology of Extensive
Use. Discovery Channel School
(2001). Retrieved May
25, 2009, from Discovery
Education:
http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/
• GPS: Global Positioning System.
Discovery Channel School
(2002). Retrieved May
25, 2009, from Discovery

Background
Site-Based Receivers
Auto
Aircraft
Marine Handheld
http://www.gulf-coast-avionics.com www.consumersmarine.com http://office.microsoft.com/

Background
-Site-Based Receivers in the Classroom
• Many Uses of Satellites. Discovery Channel School
(2003). Retrieved May 25, 2009, from Discovery
Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Background
• Geocaching – an outdoor scavenger/treasure
hunting game where you use GPS technology
to pinpoint the location of an item(s)
– Traditional Cache
– Multi-Cache
– Mystery/Puzzle Cache
– Letterbox
– Virtual
http://www.geocaching.com/about/cache_types.aspx

Stash Your Cache
Camo, Camo and More Camo

Background
Geocaching in the Classroom
Google Earth & GPS Classroom Activities, Visions Technology
Intermediate U.S. History/Geography: Grades 5-8
Intermediate Science: Grades 5-8

Classroom Activities
Introductory Activity for Teachers Using Big6
1. A form was
created to record
coordinates
outside for the
locations of 6
stations based on
the Big6 Skills.

Classroom Activities
Introductory Activity for Teachers Using Big6
2. A booklet
template was
created
that would be
used by groups.
3. The template
was used to
input coordinates
into the book –
no two booklets
were identical.

Classroom Activities
Introductory Activity for Teachers Using Big6
4. Labels were created for each Big6 step.
5. The labels were placed into film canisters
– six of #1 in one film canister
– six of #2 in one film canister and so on.

Classroom Activities
Introductory Activity for Teachers Using Big6
6. Teachers used GPS devices to
go to each location where they
would find the film canisters.
7. Teachers would place the
stickers into the booklet
according to the BIG 6 Step
used in the scenario.

Directionally Challenged?
Deciding
who to
follow
was the
tricky
part!

Classroom Activities
10 Apples Up On Top!
-Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg
Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Celebration
Media/PE Integration
•The teacher created stations based on the
events from the book.
•Teacher found coordinates outside for
each station and created cards.
•Students used GPS devices to go to preset
stations where they performed the tasks.

Classroom Activities
History Mysteries
Using Primary Source Information
Media/History
•Teacher recorded coordinates outside for
multiple stations.
•Teacher created cards for groups of students.
•Students used GPS devices to go to preset
coordinates where they found picture cards or
newspaper articles of some event in history.
•Students gathered all of the items and then tried
to discover what the items had in common.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

Integrated Classroom Activities
http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/pages/teacher_resources/gps_activities/displayall_grade_level.asp

More Classroom Activities
Rockingham County NC
http://rcsinstructionaltechnology.pbworks.com/NCaect+Confere
nce+2008
• http://linkbun.ch/aqev

More Classroom Activities
Educaching.com

Even More Classroom Activities
Intermediate Science: Grades 5-8
•Human Body •Plate Tectonics
•Cell Biology •Energy and Motion
•Ecology •Chemistry
•Geology, Landforms •Weather and Erosion
and Earth Structure
Intermediate U.S. History/Geography: Grades 5-8
•Early Exploration
•Road to Revolution
•Forming a Constitution
•A New Republic
•National Growth (1800-1844)
•Manifest Destiny & Spirit of Change (1810-1860)
•A Nation Divided (1846-1856)
•Reconstruction (1865-1877)

Online Resources
Geocaching University – Let’s Go Geocaching!
http://www.geocacher-u.com/

Geocaching University – Let’s Go
Geocaching!
http://www.geocacher-u.com/
– BINGO Cards
– Placemats
– Coloring & Activity Book
– ID Cards

Geocaching University – Let’s Go Geocaching!
http://www.geocacher-u.com/
– Vehicle Placard
– Certificates
– Cache Logs
– Stash Notes
– Trackable Items
• GeoCoin Buddy Book
• Travel Bug Travel Guide
– Cache Labels
– CITO Labels
– Log Books

Online Educational Resources
• Educaching - A GPS Based Curriculum for Teachers -
http://educaching.com/
• Geocacher University - http://www.geocacher-u.com/
• Geocachers’ Creed - http://geocreed.info/index.html
• Geocaching – The official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site -
http://www.geocaching.com/
• geocoder.us / geocoder.net - find the latitude & longitude of
any US address - for free - http://geocoder.us/
• GPS Adventures - http://gpsmaze.com/teachers.html
• Juicy Geography -
http://www.juicygeography.co.uk/gpsschool.htm

http://www.podcacher.com/