OK, I know I said I was going to move on to wikis next, but I got so inspired by the ideas posted on Google Maps Mania that I’m going try that next (but I’m still learning how to use my wikispace in the meantime).
Peggy would like her students to do a very short research project (1 or 2 lessons) to introduce the concept of geography. They need to find out basic information (like population, per capita income, political structure, etc,) about one country each – every student has a different country – using various web resources. In the past she has had students present a poster with a regional and country map and the information color coded around the edges of the images.
Instead, we’re going to try this:
- Students will research about their assigned country. As they research, they need to keep their notes in a Word document for later transfer onto the blog.
- Once they have found all the required information, they will use the “thumbtack” feature on Google Earth to label their country. They will also put all the required info in the “info” section of the thumbtack (color coded into the 5 themes of geography).
- When they are finished we can watch the slideshow view so the students can see the world view zoom into regional and local for each country they’ve researched (plus, of course, all the information they have all compiled on each of their Google Earth files).
- Then they will write a consise paragraph about what they learned on their blog and upload their Google Earth file.
- Peggy and I will compile all the individual files into one sixth grade geography file so the students can see all the research in one slideshow and post on our blog.
What do you think? Could this be better?
Hi Kim,
I have enjoyed reading your blog so far – it seems you are beginning your journey into blogging at much the same time as me. Glad that you are using Google Earth – on my blog I have posted some resources that you might find useful. I will be interested in what comes of you using your class wikispace as we have one too. – http://priestsic6.learnerblogs.org
best wishes
Tom
Thanks Tom! I’ve actually been reading your blog (and meaning to comment) for a few days now. And, I’ve linked your “Maths in Las Vegas” post to my math integration page on my wiki :)
Looking forward to sharing more!
Kim
Hi Kim,
Greetings from Seattle, Washington, USA.
I know this post was from years ago, but I just found your site(s) and have been spending HOURS learning from you [thank goodness for summer break]. I am wondering if you could point me to the end results of the Google Earth finished projects you have listed at the end of this post: “Peggy and I will compile all the individual files into one sixth grade geography file so the students can see all the research in one slideshow and post on our blog.”
I looked at the hyperlinked “blog,” but since this post is so old, I am thinking the hyperlink may be moved. I would love to see these projects.
Thanks so much for marvelous work and sharing.
@Dana
So glad my blog has been helpful for you! To be honest, I’m not sure where that post might be. It should be somewhere on this blog, but I don’t know exactly where :)