How to Navigate the Atlantic Ocean

You will be assigned a partner to work with in this WebQuest.  Your group will need to keep all your notes and worksheets in a Navigation notebook.  Designate, or make a Navigation notebook now.

As a team answer the following questions in your Navigation notebook.    How do we know where we are?     What if you were blindfolded, flown to a foreign country and dropped off in a city.  How would you figure out where you were?     What if you were in the middle of the ocean, nothing but water all the way to the horizon!  How would you know where you are now? 

Access Lesson 1 from the attached documents below.  Read material and with your partner.  Your teacher will provide you with the Nidy Gridy and Northward Ho! activities as well as the materials you will need.  Complete the two activities and place the worksheets in your Navigation workbook.

Now update your explanation of: How we know where we are?

The world today is highly organized and in our day-to-day lives, we rarely think of ourselves as navigators.  Going on hikes, or to a large park, the thrill of what's around the next corner exists, but we usually know where we are.  Today people rely on technological devices and precise maps to stay on track.  In your Navigation notebook answer the following questions.     What happens if the batteries in such devices fail?     What if the map falls out of your pocket?  Traditional navigation methods can help in such situations.

Read excerpt from the book Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time.  http://www.sheilaomalley.com/archives/004174.html

Access Lesson 2 below and then complete the Vector Voyage! and The North "Wall" Star activities.  Your teacher will provide you with worksheets and materials.  Once again, include completed worksheets in your Navigation notebook.

In your Navigation notebook explain how you could find your latitude from anywhere in the northern hemisphere?

Navigators have looked to the sky for directions for thousands of years.  Today, celestial navigation has simply switched from natural objects to artificial satellites.  A constellation of satellites, called the Global Positioning System (GPS), and hand-held receivers allow very accurate navigation.  In your Navigation notebook try and explain how they work?

Access Lesson 3 and complete State Your Position and It's About Time! activities.

If GPS is that accurate why learn other navigation tools?

Watch this video comparing GPS to map and compass navigation.  http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/gps_compass.html

In your Navigation notebook explain the advantages and disadvantages if GPS positioning?

So now that you can pinpoint location multiple ways, what else factors into Laura's journey across the Atlantic?  Take a few minutes to think about Laura's new environment.     What environmental factors will directly affect her journey?  Make a list in your Navigation notebook.

Review the maps located at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Corrientes-oceanicas.gif  and at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ocean_currents_1943_(borderless)3.png

Go through the interactive located at  http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/map.html

Update your list of environmental factors affecting ocean travel.

Now you are ready to pull it all together!  Laura Dekker is awaiting your Atlantic crossing course.  Print a blank map (using .pdf option) from  http://d-maps.com/carte.php?lib=northern_atlantic_ocean_map&num_car=3205〈=en

Apply what you have learned and mark Laura Dekker's route.  Be prepared to defend your route during questioning.

Each team will turn in their Navigation notebook.  This will include all activity worksheets and Laura's proposed route.