Lesson+1++Where+is+the+US+located?

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Learning Objectives

 * Be able to fluently use these terms: relative location, latitude, longitude , equator , Prime Meridian , and hemisphere.
 * Tell someone else where the United States is located in many different ways.

Introduction
In class, we went over various ways of telling someone where the United States is located. We even filled out a graphic organizer to help us remember many different ways to tell **RELATIVE LOCATION**. You can tell your location by talking about hemispheres, political boundaries, continents, or comparing where you are to the equator and Prime Meridian.

Lesson
Now let's talk about ABSOLUTE LOCATION. Watch the video below to learn about **LATITUDE** and **LONGITUDE**.

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Now that you have learned a little more about absolute location, see if you can figure out the absolute location of East Lansing, Michigan. View this map. Write down the degrees latitude and longitude because you will need those numbers for your assignment.

Assignment
We have been practicing how to tell someone where the United States is located. However, everyone who we have told is in the United States right now. Therefore, it is probably pretty easy to find the US on a map because we are familiar with the Earth. What if the person you were trying to tell wasn't from Earth? Would it be as easy to tell directions? Let's find out!

You will now write a letter to an extraterrestrial. You will invite them for a visit by giving them directions on how to locate the United States. Remember that this extraterrestrial has never even been to Earth before, so you'll need to be very specific and use many different explanations. Use this to remind you of how many different ways you can describe the relative location of the US. Use the rubric to make sure you have included all the required content, and make sure that you follow the format of a friendly letter. You will create and share a Google Doc with Mrs. Wever and Miss Stasiak. Don't forget to turn it in to the Assignment Dropbox!