Technology Integrated Lesson Plan Template
Assessment Strategies and Rubrics
Subject:
AEST-The Science of Agricultural Plants
Unit 12 – New Technologies in Plant
Production
Grade Level: 9th – 12th
Technology/Equipment/Supplies
Needed:
PowerPoint – Intro to GIS/GPS and
handout, Projector, Computer, Internet,
GPS Meter, Flagging, GPS Activity
handout, Ball, Participation Rubric, Written
Test
Lesson Length - 90 minutes
No. of Sessions: 3
Collaboration (w/media specialist, other
staff):
Forestry Specialist
Task/Objectives:
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2
Examine precision farming as a new technology in plant production.
a Describe precision farming and its importance.
b Demonstrate the use of a global positioning system in plant production.
Describe how GPS works and demonstrate it with a handheld unit as well as equipmentmounted units.
a Demonstrate the use of geographic information system technology in plant production.
b Secure local GIS information and demonstrate how it is used.
c Apply GPS and GIS information to fertilizer application and other crop inputs.
Assessment Strategies:
Examine precision farming as a new technology in plant production.
 Unit test over objectives
 GPS Activity Participation
 Completion of GPS Activity Criteria
Intergration:
Math, Science, English, Geography, Technology
Resources:


Advanced farming systems materials: Instant yield map, instant survey, instant crops and
pocket survey. (1998). Burr Ridge, IL: Case Corporation.
Biondo, R. J., & Lee, J. S. (1997). Introduction to plant and soil science and technology.
Danville, IL: Interstate Publishers, Inc.
 http://www.hammondmap.com/latlong.html
 http://www.aquarius.geomar.de/omc/omc_intro.html
Alignment to Content Standards:
Agriculture and Environmental Science and Technology (AEST)
(Program CIP: 02.0401 - Agricultural Plants-AEST)
The Science Of Agricultural Plants – 12.1a,b & 12.2a,b,c
Technology Integrated Lesson Plan Template
Assessment Strategies and Rubrics
GPS Activity
(100 points)
Background: Longitude and Latitude





To interpret coordinate positions, a user must understand lines of latitude and
longitude.
Lines of latitude circle the earth in an east/west direction while lines of longitude
circumnavigate in a north/south direction from pole to pole.
Degrees of latitude start at 0 at the equator and increase to either 90 north or 90
south at the poles.
An equal distance lies between each line of latitude (approximately 69 miles or
111 km), thus lines of latitude are often referred to as parallels.
Degrees of longitude start at 0 at Greenwich, England (Prime Meridian) and
move east (positive degrees) and west (negative degrees) to 180.
Part 2: Determining longitude and latitude coordinates

Approximate your current coordinate (latitude and longitude) position using the
map below. Mark your approximation on the map below (5 points)

Go to an unobstructed outside location

Use your GPS receiver to acquire a 3-D Navigation status (lock onto at least four
satellites) on the Satellite Page. This process may take several minutes.
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Technology Integrated Lesson Plan Template
Assessment Strategies and Rubrics

Interpret the status and strength of the satellites whose numbers are displayed in
Status________(5 pts.) Strength__________(5 pts.)
the circular area.
Directions to teacher: Have several groups of students simultaneously take coordinate
readings at different locations. This will allow them to compare their data with the other
groups. Emphasize to your students that it is important for the GPS receiver to remain
stationary when taking these readings. You might want to recommend that the receiver be
placed directly on the ground.

Move to the Position Page

Make sure your GPS receiver is set to display readings in decimal form (default).

Record in the table below the latitude and longitude of your position, at
thirty-second intervals over a 3-minute period.

Record the data pertaining to these coordinate positions over this time span on the
table below
Time, latitude, and longitude (30 points)
Reading Number
1
2
3
4
5

Time
1
1
1
1
1
Latitude
1
1
1
1
1
Longitude
1
1
1
1
1
Input data values in an Excel spreadsheet (5 points). Be sure to name and
store the file correctly (5 points).

Graph time versus latitude and do the same for longitude (see Figure below)
(10 points)
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Technology Integrated Lesson Plan Template
Assessment Strategies and Rubrics
Part 3: Determining differences between two locations

Input another group’s 3-minute data in your spreadsheet and simultaneously
graph time versus latitude and longitude for both groups’ data (see figure below)
(15 points).

Compare the graphs and discuss the relationship between the graphs (10 points).

Convert the difference in latitude between two locations to a difference in
feet (10 points)
Hint:




There are 69 miles between each line of latitude and 5,280 ft. in one mile.
1 degree of change in latitude = 60 minutes = 364,560 feet = 69.05 miles
1 minute = 1 nautical mile = 6076 feet
Discuss how you would convert the difference in longitude from minutes of a
degree to feet.
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Technology Integrated Lesson Plan Template
Assessment Strategies and Rubrics
Test Questions Examples:
1. Precision farming enables producers to
a. Apply exact amounts of fertilizer to different areas in a field
b. Predict the amount of fertilizer runoff from a field
c. Decide marketability of a particular crop
d. All of the above
2. Latitude and longitude coordinates are referred to as
a. Attribute Information
b. Geographic Information
c. Spatial measurements
d. GPS measurements
3. Soil type would be an example of
a. Attribute Information
b. Geographic Information
c. Spatial measurements
d. GPS measurements
4. GPS is the acronym for
a. Global Precision Systems
b. Global Point Security
c. Global Positioning Systems
d. Non of the above
5. GIS is the acronym for
a. Geographic Information Systems
b. Geographic Information Satellites
c. Global Information System
d. Global Information Satellites
1. Using at least 5 words from the word bank below, discuss how Precision Farming
reduces environmental damage
Pesticides, Fertilizer, Runoff, Soil, Streams, Water table, Precisely, Application.
Variable, Sustainability
More questions should be added from information on GPS Activity Handout
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Technology Integrated Lesson Plan Template
Assessment Strategies and Rubrics
CATEGORY
100 points/day
90 points/day
80 points/day
70 points/day
Attitude
I always have a positive attitude
about the task(s).
I often have a positive
attitude about the task(s).
I usually have a positive attitude
about the task(s).
I often have a negative
attitude about the
task(s).
Quality of Work
I provided work of the highest
quality with a positive attitude.
I provided high quality
work.
Pride
The work I did reflected my
best effort.
The work I did reflected
a strong effort.
I provided work that
occasionally needed to be
checked/redone
My work reflected some
effort.
Focus on the
task
I stayed focused on the task
and what needed to be done.
I focused on the task
and what needed to be
done most of the time.
I focused on the task and
what needed to be done
some of the time.
Clean-up
I helped make sure clean up
task were done to completion.
I helped do some of the
clean up task.
Clean up task were done, but
I didn't participate
My work had to be
checked to ensure
quality.
My work reflected very
little effort.
I did not focus on the
task and what needed
to be done. I let others
do the work.
The work space was
left in a mess.
Students will get 100 points/day for a possible total of 500 points for the week. An average will be taken of the total by number of days.
Attendance is extremely important to maintain a good participation grade. Students will be given 50 points (instead of 0) for each
unexcused absents (UNIX). If a parent calls in or you have an excused absence, it will not affect your participation grade, however,
completion of activity assignment will be required.
I have read and understand the above terms in which grades will be issued based on my daily participation in AEST class.
Student Name:
Date:
Technology Integrated Lesson Plan Template
Assessment Strategies and Rubrics
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