Hello Everyone:
Below is my lesson plan that I will be using on my students probably in the month of May 2011. The students will be creating Google Earth Vodcast. My video reflects my belief that Google Earth should be taught to students in elementary grades from at least grades 3rd and up. Most schools wait until students are either in the 6th grade or even high school. Students today adapt to technology very easily. I feel that starting from the 3rd grade not only teaches them this technology but also give a introduction to Geography. I can vouch that in my K-12 learning in Philadelphia, I was taught Geography in the 5th Grade and that was my only introduction. The next time that I actually had Geography again was when I took some courses in college. In fact over the years, since I have always had a fondness of Geography, I have probably taken at least 12 credits in the undergraduate level and 3 credits at the graduate level.
My introduction to Google Earth will be as follows:
- 3rd Graders such as searching for locations that they would know such as Sesame Place, Disney World, etc.
- 4th Grader would search for a states that All American Presidents were born
- 5th Grader would search for Earthquake locations
- 6th Graders will search for Volcanoes and add a Placemarker
- 7th Graders will search for historical locations and add a Placemarker. They will also add a Google Earth Vodcast to their search location.
- 8th Graders will search for technical schools, colleges and universities that they would like to attend. They will also add a Google Earth Vodcast to their search location.
Take the time to check out my lesson plan I will be using with my students in a few months.
Also take a look at my video that will hopefully persuade you that the Web 2.0 of Google Earth should be taught earlier in the classroom.
Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenarios Planning
- Target Audience:
The Target Audience is learners from the 5th to the 8th Grades
- Materials:
Computer
Blackboard
Projector
Internet Access
Google Earth
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microphone
- Objectives:
- To introduce students to the various feature of Google Earth
- To develop proper search techniques within this software
- To add placemarkers to mark specific locale of an approved specified region
- To make an Internet Vodcast recording of the chosen locale in Google Earth.
- Procedure:
· Students will watch a PowerPoint presentation regarding Google Earth.
· The presentation will name each required feature that the students will be
manipulating during their search assignment.
· Students will get a real time example from the Teacher in Google Earth
· The example given in Google Earth will be identical to the student’s assignment the
only difference will be that the Teacher will use a different locale. The Teacher will
illustrate how to add the required labels, placemarkers and develop a Vodcast.
· One the presentation is done; students will work individually researching a particular
location of a previous Earthquake. Then the students will mimic the Teacher’s
presentation by adding the required labels, placemarkers and then record their
findings on a Vodcast with the Google Earth software and their microphone.
· One the Google Earth podcast is completed, the assignment will be viewed by the
Teacher for their grade.
- Web 2.0 Tool:
· Google Earth will be the chosen Web 2.0.
· This tool will be used to not only introduce the students to this interactive mapping software but to also increase student’s skills of Geographical knowledge of the world.
· Additionally the students will record their search findings via a Vodcast.
- Social Participation/Social Learning:
· The Teacher will walk around the classroom helping students (if needed) with their Google Earth assignment.
· Students will work in teams of three to search for a particular locale in the world that has have a recent devastating earthquake. Examples with be Haiti, Samoa, etc.
· After the students get this assigned locale they will create placemarkers and develop their video podcast.
· Once this assignment is completed, all groups will view each presentation.
- Making Connections:
Students will be able to:
· Use the Internet to research geographical and earthquake topics with the help of
the Web 2.0 tool of Google Earth.
· The application of applying digital tools will be used to gather, evaluate, and use
information.
· Students are able to plan strategies to guide inquiry, locate, organize, analyze,
evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and
media, evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the
appropriateness to specific tasks and process data and report results.
- Create/Produce:
· The end product will be a Vodcast created entirely in Google Earth.
- Reflection:
· The learner will have an opportunity to ask questions about their experience using
Google Earth.
· The learner will also give feedback about any problems they had while
completing their classroom assignment.
· The learner will acknowledge if the presentation by the Teacher was helpful in
the completion of their assignment.
Here is my video link below:
Google Earth - A Web 2.0 That Should Be Taught Initially In The Elementary School Grade Levels
