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Teachers can use GPS tracking for all kinds of great lessons, experiments, and field trips. It’s a great way to teach kids about science, technology, and navigation. Some take this technology to corn mazes and teach kids about map reading. Others use it to supplement geography lessons. The use of GPS as a supplemental educational tool is only limited by a teacher’s imagination and creativity. A British primary school teacher recently used a GPS tracker as part of an amazing class project.

Up, Up, and Away!

The world has been recently astonished by a class project based in Landscove Primary School in Devon, England. The teacher, Robin Smith, thought the idea was “mad” but “unique.” It worked out better than anyone expected. Students fashioned a rocket-shaped vessel out a plastic soda bottle. Inside, they placed their pilot: a potato dressed as Father Christmas. This inspired the name for the vessel—Spudnik 2. (Spudnik 1 was reportedly a failed attempt.) They tied the spaceship to a weather balloon and let go.

In 2 hours and 20 minutes, Spudnik 2 floated up to 90,000 feet, or 17 miles, above the earth. A camera on board snapped incredible photos that clearly showed the curvature of the planet below. When the balloon finally popped, the vessel parachuted back down. At this point, all would be lost and the kids would never know what happened to their potato friend, if it hadn’t been for GPS tracking. The teacher followed a tracking device and located the spaceship about 140 miles away from school on a Christmas tree farm. Now, with the recovery of the camera, this little school is making headlines around the world.

Now you’re thinking, “Why didn’t my teachers ever come up with such a cool idea?” Probably because you went to school before GPS was invented. Instead of lamenting your age, give a few students the opportunity you never had. Pass on some ideas to your local school, and see if GPS tracking can put your hometown on the map.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett