Understanding By Design Curriculum Unit
What enduring understandings
are desired?
It is easier to find a specific place in a large
area if there is a grid with numbers covering
the area.
Coordinates match up with a location on a
grid.
What are the overarching
"essential" questions?
How can you find a specific place inside a
large area?
How can you use coordinates to find a place
on a grid?
What will students understand
as a result of this unit?
Students will be able to locate a specific
place using latitude and longitude.
What "essential" and "unit" questions will
focus this unit?
How can I find specific places within a large
area like Earth?
Students will understand that coordinates
match to a location on a grid.
How can I find a location on a grid using
coordinates?
What evidence will show that students understand...?
Performance Tasks, Projects
Labeling the globe and longitude lines project (balloon & marker); Latitude Ladder project; Plot your
position
Quizzes, Tests, Academic Prompts
Latitude and Longitude pretest and posttest
Other Evidence
Student Self-Assessment
Performance on practicing locating places on
maps (class work)
Exit questions
Summary:
Students are going to locate places on the globe using latitude and
longitude. They will be learning key vocabulary by engaging in handson projects. They will be practicing this skill by using maps & questions
and by creating & explaining maps.
Grade/Level:
6th Grade
Time Frame:
3 weeks
Subject(s):
Social Studies
Topic(s):
Latitude and Longitude
Notes:
Created by Amy York, Sabrina Berentsen, Amy Majek, and Gabriela
Paardenkooper.
Standards:
1.4-9: Locate and describe a specific place on a map using latitude and
longitude.
Enduring
Understandings:
It is easier to find a specific place in a large area if there is a grid with
numbers covering the area.
Coordinates match up with a location on a grid.
Essential Questions: How can you find a specific place inside a large area?
How can you use coordinates to find a place on a grid?
Knowledge and
Skills:
Students will be able to locate a specific place using latitude and
longitude.
Students will understand that coordinates match to a location on a grid.
Performance Task:
Reading maps (practice).
Creating maps (Culminating activity – Plot Your Position).
Performance
Prompt:
Design a travel brochure using maps from “Plot Your Position” activity.
Assessment/Rubrics: Latitude and longitude pre- and post- tests
Sequence of
Activities:
1. View video describing the purpose of latitude and longitude.
Explain why map readers use latitude and longitude.
2. Draw and label key globe points on a globe [balloon] (north
pole, south pole, equator, Prime Meridian). Read a map to find
the location of the north pole, south pole, equator, and Prime
Meridian.
3. Draw lines of longitude on a globe [balloon]. Read a description
of longitude lines and how they appear on a globe.
4. Locate places on maps using longitude lines. Read maps to find
specific locations.
5. Create a 2-level store by placing items for sale on the walls. Use
a latitude ladder to show where items are located in the store.
Write (and answer) a series of questions that require the reader
to find the latitude of an object in the store. (Extension: Design
an ad for your store with directions to different locations within
the store.)
6. Locate places on maps using longitude lines. Read maps to find
specific locations.
7. Locate places on maps using latitude and longitude lines. Read
maps to find specific locations.
8. Create maps by reading directions that include latitude and
longitude. [Plot Your Position]. Design a travel brochure for the
place you created.
9. Play “Message in a Bottle” to practice finding latitude and
longitude (game). Play latitude and longitude games (computer).
Differentiated
Instruction:
When practicing locating places on maps, provide students with maps
that have varying levels of complexity and detail.
When creating maps through culminating activity “Plot Your Position”,
differentiate required tasks.
Resources:
Various latitude and longitude (geography) workbooks.