How to Teach Latitude & Longitude
Every time I teach a new concept, I go on a mad hunt looking for just the right activities to create an effective unit. Oftentimes, I end up creating my own resources to use. This time was different. Yes, I made a Latitude and Longitude worksheet. However, most of the resources on this post are not mine. I found some awesome FREE printables and activities for our How to Teach Latitude & Longitude.
*If your student isn’t ready for latitude and longitude, try our Printable World Maps & Activities here.
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How to Teach Latitude & Longitude in Steps
Scale & Compass Rose
The first step in how to teach latitude & longitude is to teach scale and a compass rose. With any map, students need to have a general idea of direction. This free map was a great find. My students are 6th graders, so the questions are appropriate. You may need to guide your student if this is their first time seeing a scale. The questions help the student understand the meaning of the map, scale, and key. Great resource. Thank you C Frank Education for this Free Resource!
*Don’t forget the mnemonic device- Never Eat Shredded Wheat = North East South West. Another one is Never Eat Soggy Waffles.
Grip Map
This is an awesome FREE resource. When I went on the quest to figure out how to teach latitude & longitude, I knew that I needed to make or find a map featuring a grid. It was the base that would grow into lines of latitude and longitude. It is in this step that you teach horizontal, vertical, and intersecting lines. Dragon’s Den offers two free grid maps. We used them both. Download your free set here from Dragon’s Den.
Equator & Prime Meridian
Use various Globes
Hands-on activities are memorable. There is something about touching what you are learning. It uses a sensory organ to learn that is underrated. Once students grasp direction, a scale, and a key, we move on to the most important line of latitude and longitude. This is when to teach the equator and the prime meridian. I like to use a blow-up globe or a real one to point out these important lines. You can usually buy the blow-up globes at the Dollar Tree at the beginning of the school year. Once they are gone, they don’t usually come back until the start of the next school year. So, if you see them, don’t hesitate to pick up a few!
Balloon Globes
I found this resource over the summer and have been waiting to use it for class. After we touch and see a real globe and the beach globe, we move on to making our own Balloon Globe. What a stellar idea! I loved making it and my students enjoyed it too! I admit that we had one balloon pop during the making of the balloon globes, but in general, it was fun and we had a few laughs along the way! The activity reiterates continents, oceans, the equator, and the prime meridian. We discuss where each hemisphere is and what imaginary lines separate them. The creator of the Balloon Globe sells this product on Teachers pay Teachers. The woman’s store is called Learning Lab.
Latitude & Longitude YouTube Video
This video is about 10 minutes long and does an effective job of covering all the important information with visuals. The narrator/teacher is entertaining and easy to understand. There are map skill videos before this one if you feel your student could benefit from further instruction with topics like scales and keys.
Latitude & Longitude Reading Comprehension Sheets
I was thrilled when I found this set of latitude and longitude worksheets. The creator, otherwise known as That Crazy History Teacher, defined and described lines of latitude, lines of longitude, and then a combo sheet. With each reading section, she then had questions at the bottom to check for comprehension. I thought it was an awesome resource for free! Download your set here.
Latitude & Longitude U.S. Worksheet
This worksheet is really to give your student some practice. You want to build their latitude and longitude skills so that they will find the next challenge not too intimidating. It is available to you by Super Teachers Worksheets.
Latitude & Longitude World Worksheet
This worksheet is one that I created to test my students in finding coordinates, but also in identifying continents and oceans. Unless your student has a solid grasp of latitude and longitude, they may likely need help to get started. You may even want to show them how to do the first one to ensure that they understand all of the instructions. I would also suggest that they cross out each number as they do them so that they don’t miss any.
check out these other free science units!
