Geocaching can be done with Literature, Math, History, PE, Art or any subject!

Teacher Notes

Think, Digital Treasure Hunt! You need to create clues that lead to hidden treasure. 

 As we continue into the twenty-first century, we are continuously being challenged by new technologies. As teachers, we try to use technology effectively inside and outside the classroom. One of the final tasks in this on-going project included geocaching with students. They were taken to task with a GPS-based activity by using GPS receivers (or their phones), taught the basics of geocaching and set out to find hidden rubber ducks on our school campus.

Using geocaching to learn is all about solving puzzles and creative thinking, and getting out of the classroom! In addition, it provides students with an opportunity to work collaboratively in a group and incorporate the characteristics of active, engaged learning in a constructivist learning environment.  Get those mobile devices out and shoot some pictures of the fun. Add the pictures to your final Google Slides or Site project!

Materials Needed:

• Background information on Geocaching (see Geocaching PowerPoint)

• Handheld GPS devices (you don't need a class set - but at least 5)

• Students can use their own smart phone with the free app, Geocaching

• Space to hide caches (school grounds)

Introduction

Our students will use handheld GPS devices. Each device will receive data from the closest satellites to determine the unit's absolute location of a duck.  We are calling this: Geocaching with Ducks.  Geocaching is a fun, engaging adventure activity for GPS users. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the Internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Remember, you can use a theme from any book you select, or subject. - get creative! 

Background Information for Students:

Geocache comes from the terms geo (earth) and cache (hidden supply or treasure). A bit of trivia: explorers and miners used caches to hide food or other items for emergency purposes and animals (especially squirrels) hide food in caches for later use. Today’s geocaches are usually inexpensive little trinkets or maybe just a written clue in waterproof container with the cache's coordinates. All hidden caches contain the absolute location because these coordinates, along with other details of the location, are posted on the Internet so other geocachers can collect the coordinates and find the cache using their GPS handheld receivers.

Getting Started: Warm up activity: Find Daffy - Using Geocaching with Students (see PDF below)