Thing 16 - Google Earth, Literature Stories, Projects, and Sketch Up

Purpose:  To learn about the variety of curriculum applications that can be used in conjunction with Google Earth.

Background: 

Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others.

Discovery Activity

GOOGLE EARTH

First, read this  Google Earth article:  http://www.edutopia.org/good-earth

Next, download Google Earth to your computer: http://earth.google.com/

Now, explore these different applications of Google Earth:

Explore the earth: http://earth.google.com/ocean/

Watch a few videos other uses of Google Earth: http://www.youtube.com/user/mkbarth

Watch at least three Google Lit Trips (these only work if you have downloaded Google Earth on your computer):  http://www.googlelittrips.org/

Read about how to put together a lit trip: http://web.mac.com/jburg/GoogleLit/Lit_Trip_Tips.html

GOOGLE SKETCH UP

Second, listen and watch a video about Google Sketch Up:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SketchUpVideo

Finally, download and read about Sketch Up: http://www.google.com/educators/start_sketchup.html

Create a diagram or buildings and take a picture of what you created.

Post your image on your blog.

Blog Post: “Thing 16, Google Earth, Literature Stories”: 

Post a picture of the diagram you created in Sketch Up.  Discuss how you created it and what it could be used for in the classroom.

Secondly, discuss which Lit Trip you took and how this can be applied in your classroom.