Once it is time for students to begin geocaching, I go over the rules and expectations of geocaching. I divide students into their geocaching teams and students take turns being the navigator (kiddo who uses the navigator) and the recorder (the student with the clipboard who records their findings on the log sheet). Students also practice using their GPS navigators and finding caches by participating in a teacher-led scavenger hunt. I spend two weeks reviewing mapping skills such as latitude and longitude, parts of a map, and innovations in navigation. Geocaching is a great opportunity to teach students about geography. If you decided to encrypt the clue, then students can also record the deciphered clue here too. You will need to create a log for students to record which caches they found and the image that was inside the cache or location for the visual cache. This is important so that students aren’t looking for a canister when there isn’t one to find. I let students know which caches are visual caches by highlighting those rows with a different color. This helps prevent everyone in your class from looking for the same cache at the same time. Students will randomly draw cards to discover. Make cache cards that contain the cache number, clue, and coordinates for students to cut out and place in an envelope. This is to represent to 50 stars and 13 stripes. For example I always like to use our school’s American flag. These are objects around school that students have to identify and where there is no physical canister to discover. Not only do I use physical caches like canisters, I also use visual caches. To add an extra challenge, I encrypt the messages and students have to decipher them using an encryption key. Buried in the corner of a flower bed or school garden.On top of a tree branch that is reachable by students.Here is a list of good hiding places that you may find around your school… I record all of this information in a Cache Location Roster for me to use For each location I found, I logged its absolute location (latitude and longitude coordinates), placed a piece of Velcro to help keep the cache in place, jotted down a description of its location, and wrote a clever clue to help students find the cache when they got there. I brought a canister with me as I tested out possible hiding places. Hiding Placesįinding hiding places for your caches where the other 500+ students at your school won’t see them is a challenge. This is another way for me to ensure that students stay honest and actually locate the caches on the log. The pictures are used because kids have to record on their log sheet what character was on the bottom of the cache. I use cartoon characters because most kids will know who they are. Finally, choose and cut out small image that will fit on the bottom of the cache. You will then assign a number to each cache based on how many caches you are planning on using. Next, make log sheets that will be placed inside the cache for students to write their monikers proving that they found the cache. Prepare your canisters by placing address labels on the outside with information about how to return it if found by a student not in your class. Thank you!” This will greatly increase the odds of your cache being returned if someone in another class discovers its location. Two kiddos per navigator.įilm Canisters – You will want to invest in small film canisters or other small containers that can be used as caches because they are small and easy to hide.Īddress Labels – I place on each cache a label that reads “Please return to Mrs. GPS Navigators – Since most students are not allowed to have cell phones at school, you will need to purchase GPS navigators. Just like Pokémon, it is a treasure hunt but at a higher level because it involves using clues and GPS. Geocaching is a challenging, fun, and engaging activity that millions of people do around the world. This was the perfect opportunity for me to introduce geocaching to my students. I loved that kids who might not otherwise get off their tablets or computers were active and engaging with the world. This was no different than at my school in Las Vegas. Finding and catching new species of Pokémon was like a thrilling treasure hunt. Kids all over the nation went wild for Pokémon Go when it was released.
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