McKinney Roughs Nature Park Field Experience

Going Places Scientifically

shaded trail at McKInney RoughsSource: Site Developed Program

Time: 1 to 2 hours (flexible - talk with staff)

This technology is taking off! GPS is everywhere - in cars, cell phones.... Students discover the history behind the development of GPS (Global Positioning System) and how this new technology is integrated into everyday life. They will learn to use a GPS (provided by McKinney Roughs) by collecting data points while hiking a nature trail. They will then plot their collected data on a topographic map.

TEKS: 8.4
TAKS Objectives: 1

Pre-Visit Suggestion

Make an Astrolabe
This experiment lets students make an astrolabe of their own.

Post-Visit Suggestions

Making a Topographic Map
Students either sample water from their own watersheds or teacher and students take a short walk to a local water source to obtain a sample.

McKinney Roughs Stories
Students write and present a lesson on a pre-assigned TEKS objective based on their trip to McKinney Roughs.