Travel Bugs a Hit!

Using travel bugs with my second grade students has been a big hit. I was really worried that the bugs would sit in caches for long periods of times without being moved. So far, in the month since they were released, all four travel bugs have been picked up and moved. And I just got an email from a geocacher who is willing to take one of the bugs to Rome, Italy if I could wait two months. I’m going to ask the kids what they would like to do, but I’m guessing they will say “Yes.”

In a previous post, I discussed about how we made the travel bugs together by drawing them on the SmartBoard. We also included a description to go along with them. Adding the description to the actual travel bug is the reason why this project has been successful. Many of the geocachers that move the bugs comment on how they want to help out the kids. So, if you plan on releasing a travel bug with students, I strongly suggest you include a “note” from the kids. It does seem to make a difference.

A Travel Bug Plan

I recently received my order for four travel bugs from Geocaching.com. I thought it would be neat to start them off with my 2nd grade class this year, as we could follow them along together for the next few years, but I hadn't figured how I was going to do it yet. Fortunately, I stumbled across this blog post about a Webquest introducing Travel Bugs on a colleague's blog. It is a great starting point for me. I will have to modify the quest for my use, as I will have four travel bugs, one for each class, rather than one for each student (although that is a neat idea too, maybe for next year). There are some great resources on the site as well. I found links to both a Power Point introducing geocaching as well as forum for using GPS in education with lesson plan links. HOORAY! I know what I will be doing this summer!

Thanks to my partners in crime this Spring, Jessica, Sue, and Emily, for your encouraging words through my discovery of GPS and geocaching in education. Although my blog posts will probably be less frequent once this class is over, I have every intention of keeping it up - not only as a journal documenting my learning but as a tool for other teachers interested in getting started. I'm glad you will continue following.

Blog Source: Langwiches: Geocaching in Education retrieved on April 20, 2008 from http://langwitches.org/blog/2007/08/20/geocaching-in-elementary-school/.

Image Source: http://www.castlecoinsandpins.com/shop/images/travelbug_large.jpg

Getting Started with a Travel Bug

As I don't have a handheld GPS unit yet (although a colleague has offered to share hers) and am still learning about geocaching, I thought it would be good for me to launch some travel bugs this year. My second graders spend the year studying the seven continents, so launching a travel bug with them would be perfect. I think it would be so neat for them to follow the bug for the rest of the school year, recording on a map where the bug ends up. And since I will continue to instruct them in the lab through 4th grade, the project can continue once the year is over.

So, I created an account with Geocaching.com and spent the evening exploring the site. Starting with a travel bug will definitely be the easiest. I can order four travel bugs (one for each section of 2nd grade) for about $25. Next, I will need to find a water-tight container, notebook, etc. for the cache. I will also need the students to decide on what item(s) should be in the cache along with the directions we would like followed.

Here is an example of a travel bug that was launched from a middle school classroom in Delaware:

"Each class at NCS is launching a travel bug this year, from the school's cache. The students bring in items to attach to the TB and the class selects which item they want to use. Then they vote on a destination, based on places they have discussed in one of their classes. Finally they write a letter to accompany the TB. They are hoping to hear from folks who move the TB and learn about various places around the globe."

The students decided that Platster should go to Tokyo, Japan. Here is a photo of Platser in front of the school before he was officially "launched". Students requested that geocachers take Platser's photo in different places on its journey to Japan.

Travel Bugs Frequently Asked Questions from Geocaching.com
http://www.geocaching.com/track/faq.aspx