Look at this Voicethread!!!! So cool :)

Science Challenge!

Hello-

For my science challenge I decided I will tackle Objective 1 of Standard 1 in the third grade core curriculum.

Objective 1: Describe the shape of earth and the moon as spherical.
List the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the moon as viewed from space.

Using Google Earth and Moon, students will explore the appearance of both the Earth and the Moon. They will answer a series of questions:
1. What shape is the earth? What shape is the moon? What are other objects you see in life that are this same shape?

2. Looking at the earth so that the equator is running horizontal across the middle of the screen, what colors do you see?

3. Looking at the moon using google moon, what colors can you see?

4. While still on google moon, zoom in to the following three sites: Apollo 11, Apollo 12, and Apollo 14. These are the places where those spaceships landed. List three descriptions of each site of what you see. Be sure to include any landforms you see.

5. Using Google Earth, zoom in to three different places of your choice. Write what places you visit and three descriptions of what you see. Be sure to include any landforms you might see.

6. Rotate views on both Google Earth and Google Moon. Compare and contrast what you see with 3 descriptions in each column for similarities and differences.

7. Draw and color a picture of the moon and a picture of the earth. Label at least five characteristics on each.

Content: Students will learn Standard 1, Objective 1 in the third grade core. They will learn that the earth and the moon are both spherical and that their appearance has both similarities and differences.
Pedagogy: I will ask the students what they have observed about the moon before. After we discuss this, I will excitedly inform them that are computers have a program that allows us to explore the surface of the moon like we have explored the earth before on Google Earth. The students will have about ten minutes to explore the moon as they wish to acquaint themselves with the technology. Then, I will pass out a worksheet with the questions above that will guide them in their explorations and observations. They will conclude the activity by drawing and coloring a picture that shows some of the observations they have made of the earth and the moon using Google Earth.
Technology: I will be using Google Earth and its special Google Moon abilities to explore the surfaces of those two spheres.

Exploring Other Tours

Hello! I just finished exploring my classmate's tours. I now have some great new ideas!

For instance, in Malorie Walton's tour, I saw how she had her students study what they saw and answer a question before they went to another area of the classroom to complete an activity. Thus, her students not only got a Google Earth tour, but a classroom tour as well!

In Ashley Howden's tour I learned that the layer's features can be great for helping students to make many different kinds of observations. And the students learn more about the technology's capabilities!

In Stephanie Anderson's tour I saw how fun it was to have the places spread out around the world so that the kids get to have a fun search while they look for them.

Everyone's tours look great!

My Tour!

Click HERE to go to my original tour.

Landforms!

Plan for helping students to understand the land features in an environment. Specifically. they will look at a volcano, canyon, glacier, and a mountain.

Location	Activity Description	Google Earth Content
1. Mt. Vesuveus	Students will observe and record characteristics of the Volcano.	Students will measure the mouth of the volcano at its widest point.
2. Grand Canyon	Students will explore the canyon and make an estimation about how many layers they think they can see in the canyon's sides.	Students will measure canyon from North to South Rim
3. Hubbard Glacier	Students will observe and record observations about the glacier	Students will observe the glacier from the lowest elevation possible. Students will measure thickness of glacier above water.
4. Mt. Fuji	Students will observe and record observations about the glacier	Students will see an overlay image of the mountain. They will zoom into google earth for a closer look

I will be teaching of different landforms that are found in various environments. After we have learned the definitions of various landforms, I will have my class go onto computers to take this tour to see real-life examples in a fun and multi-dimensioual way.

Students will have a travel journal in which they will record their observatious of all the places they visit. Then, after we meet back as a class for discussion, the students will take turns telling about their "trip."

Utilizing Google Earth is perfect for this project because it will give my students to see more than just a picture of places they might not be able to go to personally. The three-dimensioual setting of the software allows children to not only observe a specific place, but they get to see it in context and how it compares to everything around it. Google Earth is a great tool because the view can always be zoomed out so that you can see the whole shape of the earth- reminding us that all the places found on our planet are in fact connected to us.