Latitude, longitude, and great circles
Students use the coordinate system of latitude and longitude to locate points on the Earth's surface. They calculate distances along great circles and small circles using angular measurements.
About This Topic
Students use the coordinate system of latitude and longitude to locate points on the Earth's surface. They calculate distances along great circles and small circles using angular measurements.
Key Questions
- How do latitude and longitude define a location on Earth?
- What is the difference between a great circle and a small circle?
- How do we calculate the shortest distance between two global cities?
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Planning templates for General Mathematics
5E Model
The 5E Model structures lessons through five phases (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), guiding students from curiosity to deep understanding through inquiry-based learning.
Unit PlannerMath Unit
Plan a multi-week math unit with conceptual coherence: from building number sense and procedural fluency to applying skills in context and developing mathematical reasoning across a connected sequence of lessons.
RubricMath Rubric
Build a math rubric that assesses problem-solving, mathematical reasoning, and communication alongside procedural accuracy, giving students feedback on how they think, not just whether they got the right answer.
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