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Great Paths
for Skiing: Using GPS to Map the Town of Minerva Cross-Country Ski
Trail
Grade Level:
6 – 8 Academic Areas: Social
Studies Duration of
service: 1 – 2 months Character Virtues: Respect, Caring, Responsibility, Civic virtue and Citizenship Technology: GIS, GPS, Remote Sensing Service Areas: Education/Tutoring, Environmental,
Public Safety Service Learning Project: Middle school students at Minerva Central School will participate in a
month-long project (in conjunction with Irish Pride Week) in which they will
use GPS and GIS technologies to create an interactive map of the town’s
cross-country ski trails. They will
walk the trails to collect data points via GPS and then use GIS technology to
generate a map of the points. First,
each student will create a simple map of the trail route, drawn based on
his/her own observations, WITHOUT using GIT.
Then each student will create a map using GPS and GIS. Students will compare their own maps in
terms of accuracy. Next, students will
add digital layers to their basic GPS/GIS maps. Students will review one another’s maps and together select their
favorite one to represent the project.
This map will then be presented to the town for use at the ski area
and a digital version of the map will be posted online for skiers to
view. Students’ participation in this
service learning project will align with character education goals, including
respect, caring, responsibility, and civic virtue and citizenship.
Goals and Objectives Academic Learning Goal: Students will learn and use research skills to
locate and gather geographic information. Standard: Social Studies 3. Geography – Students
will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their
understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we
live—local, national, and global—including the distribution of people,
places, and environments over the Earth’s surface. Learning Goal: Students will present geographic information in a variety of formats. Standard: Social Studies 3. Geography – Students
will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their
understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we
live—local, national, and global—including the distribution of people,
places, and environments over the Earth’s surface. Service Community
need: Improved trail map
for the town cross-country ski area Possible Community Partners: Town of Minerva, Highway Department Objective: Students will produce a
hard-copy map of the town cross-country ski area. Objective: Students will produce a digital, online version of the aforementioned map to which the public will have access. Technology Learning Goal: Students will understand how to use a GPS receiver to
record waypoints and tracks of the cross-country ski trail system. Objective: Students
will record these waypoints with a GPS receiver. Learning Goal: Students will understand how to create a layered map
with ArcView GIS. Objective: Students
will create a layered map with ArcView GIS. Character Virtue:
Civic Virtue and Citizenship Objective: Students will produce a product for their community that will be used for many years to come. Virtue: Respect Objective: Students will gain a
respect for working with others to accomplish a common goal. In addition, they will gain greater respect
for their community and environment.
Key Activities Key Planning Activities
Key
Service Activities 1. Each student will create a basic
map of the trail system using GPS/GIS and will then add multiple digital
layers to his/her basic map. For
example, students may want to include waypoints representing points of interest. Students could also hotlink digital
photographs to the waypoints on their map.
2. Students will create and publish a
hard copy trail map. 3.
Students
will present their published map at a town board meeting as a gift to the
Town of Minerva for use at the town’s cross country ski area. Students will also create a link to their
digital maps on the school webpage and the town webpage. Key Reflection Activities 1. Students will compare their two
maps (made with and without GIT) to foster a discussion of the need for
access to accurate maps and the service they provide to the community. (oral,
civic virtue and citizenship) 2. Students will swap GIT maps with
fellow classmates and try to follow those maps on the actual trail. They will then write up their suggestions
for improvement as well as compliments. (written, respect) 3. Students from the current class
will serve as mentors for a new project during the following school year.
(performance, responsibility) Celebration Activity The students
will formally present their maps during a town board meeting. Following the town board meeting, parents
and community members will be invited to a trail open house where students
will act as tour guides, using their maps. |
