Imagine yourself in the middle of an unknown land, with no map to help you determine where you are and how to get to where you want to be. How could you be sure you were always headed in the right direction? What would you do to determine your current location and keep track of your changing location, as you headed toward your destination? What tools would you choose to use? After figuring out how to gather this information, how would you record and map it so that others could follow successfully? These are the questions Lewis and Clark began to explore as they reached the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and engaged in their first attempt to meet Jefferson's charge to "take careful observations of latitude and longitude."
Successfully mapping their journey would make a huge impact on their overall mission. Could Lewis and Clark do it? Though Lewis had received some training in navigation, surveying, and astronomy in Philadelphia before beginning the journey, neither he nor Clark was a trained mathematician. Could Lewis pass on to Clark what he had learned in Philadelphia? How well would they rise to this scientific challenge? If you were given a similar challenge, would you be ready? Get ready to grab a sextant and put your powers of scientific observation and deduction to work, as you try to find yourself by the stars.
Contents of the Broadcast:
1. Opening to 5:39--Introduction, welcome, orientation to the day's topic, interaction with student groups
2. 5:39 to 17:08--This section links the topic to the original expedition by discussing the importance of map making to the Corps of Discovery. We are joined by Scott Mandrell, who portrays Meriwether Lewis for the Discovery Expedition. Student questions are also included.
3. 17:08 to 37:08--Jackie Wortmann of the NASA Education Center at Southeast Missouri State University givs a lesson on finding latitude and longitude. Information is presented on finding latitude and longitude on a globe and how explorers used the stars and an astrolabe to find their location. Students are shown how to make and use an astrolabe using a protractor and other household items. Questions from students deal with these areas, as well as Lewis and Clark's astronomical observation work on their expedition.
4. 37:08 to 57:05--Roger Strater from Purdue University and a member of the Discovery Expedition, demonstrates the application of the surveying tools used by the original expedition to find location and create maps. Tools shown include a surveyor's compass, two-pole chain, chronometer, octant and sextant. Questions from student groups delve into these topics in more depth.
5. 57:05 to 1:09:06--This segment details the use of modern technology of global positioning satellites to find location. Students are taken through a lesson on how GPS works, see GPS locaters in use, and ask questions on this topic and other questions about the original expedition.
6. 1:09:06 to End-- Summary comments from Ms. Wortmann and Mr. Strater, thanks and goodbye.
