A colleague of mine, who LOVES geocaching, shared a new global location/direction tool with me. It’s called What3Words. The founders of the company replaced the clunky and old-fashioned latitude and longitude system with a more precise and easier-to-use system. They covered the globe with 57 TRILLION 3mx3m squares. Then, they gave each square a unique code made up of 3 words. You type in the three words and you are taken to a map of that precise spot.

What3Words is so simple, intuitive, and fun to use. I just had to make a classroom activity for my students built around this amazing tool.

Here’s how it works:

1. Choose a spot outside on your school’s campus. Use What3Words to find the three words associated with that spot.

2. Place a prize of some kind in that spot. I used self-created certificates that allow students to opt out of a quiz.

3. Create clues for each of the three words. For my activity, for instance, I used crossword-style clues. There are many other fun options though: word scrambles, emojis, hieroglyphics, riddles, charades, etc. 

4. Students then try to solve your puzzle to identify the three words.

5. Once they have the words, students input them into What3Words in order to determine what order they need to be in (for specific spots, the three words need to be in a precise order). 

6. When students find the spot, they run to it and claim the prize!

It is lots of fun and challenges students on many levels: puzzle solving, technology use, and spatial intelligence. 

Have fun!

Ed X!