1. Google Earth: A Virtual Globe for Elementary Geography

2. Why Google Earth?

3. Learning About Landforms Thematic strands from NCSS Thematic strands from NCSS – Culture – People, Places, and Environment – Global Connections

4. Essential questions 1. What are common vocabulary words we use to describe directions? 2. Can you find a point on a map given a set of directions? 3. What are common vocabulary words we use to describe directions? 4. Given two points, can you describe to me the directions from point A to point B? 5. What are the landforms that make up the Earth’s appearance? 6. What are the similarities and differences between these landforms?

5. What did this lesson look like when we were in school? Globe Globe Pull down maps Pull down maps Textbooks Textbooks Encyclopedias Encyclopedias

6. What does this unit look like now? Google Earth Google Earth Turn Here video Turn Here video Discovery video Discovery video Google Images Google Images Textbooks Textbooks Textbooks

7. Day 1 Introduce basic map skills to the entire class. Introduce basic map skills to the entire class. Share with students their St. Mark map. Give them a moment to explore the map. Share with students their St. Mark map. Give them a moment to explore the map. Lead class on a navigation of the school using maps. Lead class on a navigation of the school using maps. Conclude the tour in the classroom. Review. Conclude the tour in the classroom. Review.

9. Day 2 Build off prior knowledge, connect school map lesson to real life maps. Build off prior knowledge, connect school map lesson to real life maps. Introduce Google Earth to students Introduce Google Earth to students

10. Explore Google Earth with students

11. Model oral directions to mall using vocabulary from day 1

12. Assessment After sufficient modeling pass out to students individual maps that show a route from St. Mark to the mall. After sufficient modeling pass out to students individual maps that show a route from St. Mark to the mall. Invite students to complete the writing assignment of writing directions from St. Mark to the mall. List popular vocabulary words on the board to prompt. Invite students to complete the writing assignment of writing directions from St. Mark to the mall. List popular vocabulary words on the board to prompt. *The lesson will be modified for students whose IEP requires. The students will complete the assignment using mini tape recorders. They will record directions and then playback on the recorder.

13. Days 3 and 4 Introduce lesson by reading from the geography unit in our Social Studies book. Introduce lesson by reading from the geography unit in our Social Studies book. Share with students that we are going to take some “visits” around the world to see some of the landforms we read about. Share with students that we are going to take some “visits” around the world to see some of the landforms we read about.

14. Some of our “visits” included, South African plains

15. The mountainous region of Telluride, Colorado

17. The oceans by Roatan, Honduras

19. Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras Roatan, Honduras video: watch the first 58 seconds of the video Roatan, Honduras video: watch the first 58 seconds of the video Roatan, Honduras video Roatan, Honduras video

20. Other regions we “visited” included Brazil and the Amazon River Brazil and the Amazon River Sahara Desert Sahara Desert New England lakes New England lakes The rolling hills of Kentucky The rolling hills of Kentucky

21. Day 5 Create an exciting assessment using the tools you have used during instruction. Create an exciting assessment using the tools you have used during instruction.instruction.

22. Field-based Methods Practicum Professional Development School (PDS) at Eastern Kentucky University Professional Development School (PDS) at Eastern Kentucky University Students – Methods Block Students – Methods Block – Social Studies, Science, Math and Language Arts 120 hours of field experience 120 hours of field experience

23. PDS Partnership Build a bridge from pre-service to elementary classrooms. Build a bridge from pre-service to elementary classrooms. Observe and share innovative classroom practices. Observe and share innovative classroom practices.

24. Google Earth: Virtual Globe for Elementary Geography Google Earth can be used to introduce, enhance and provide context for teaching basic geography skills. Google Earth can be used to introduce, enhance and provide context for teaching basic geography skills. – Real world connection to social studies curriculum – Teachable moments – Context for Literature and Current Events – Adapting existing lesson plans

25. The Google Earth Community Google Earth Blog - http://gearthblog.com/ Google Earth Blog - http://gearthblog.com/ http://gearthblog.com/ Google Earth for Educators Google Earth for Educators http://www.google.com/educators/ http://www.google.com/educators/ http://www.google.com/educators/ Google Lit Trips – Jerome Burg Google Lit Trips – Jerome Burg http://web.mac.com/jburg/GoogleLit/Home.html http://web.mac.com/jburg/GoogleLit/Home.html http://web.mac.com/jburg/GoogleLit/Home.html

26. Judy Britt Judy Britt Assistant Professor Assistant Professor Winthrop University Winthrop University Elementary Social Studies Methods Elementary Social Studies Methods brittj@winthrop.edu brittj@winthrop.edu brittj@winthrop.edu Gus LaFontaine Gus LaFontaine St. Mark Elementary, 4 th grade St. Mark Elementary, 4 th grade Richmond, KY Richmond, KY guslafontaine@gmail.com guslafontaine@gmail.com guslafontaine@gmail.com