Project Plan: Vectors (Precalculus)

The Gist:
This is a project that my students completed a few years ago involving vectors. Basically, students were to find a way to circumnavigate the globe in no less than 12 stops using vectors as their means of travel. Students worked in groups and used Google Earth to come up with the most exotic travel destinations they could find. Then using trace paper and their beautifully backlit computer screen, they would draw the vector onto paper so that they could find the magnitude and direction of the vectors that were used for their journey.

The Product:
Each group created a simple presentation to take the class on sort of "a guided tour" of the locales they discovered, as well as to share their calculations for the vectors. It was fun seeing the groups try to "out-do" each other with the places they found. Students were amazed at the satellite images of famous landmarks like the Pyramids at Giza or Mount Fuji.

The End Result:
The class knew vector direction and magnitude inside and out (and yes, I know there was probably some significant error due the fact that the earth is round). They also got to learn a little about global awareness, which is never a bad thing.

Click here to download the project plan