Link to the new Google Earth with 7th grade review map overlay!
|
A few weeks ago, Google released a new web based version of Google Earth. If you have not checked it out, you need to! A few key updates:
|
Google earth was a mainstay in my classroom for several years, until we moved to Chromebooks. Student's computers would not run Google Earth, so we found other ways to explore the geographic features of the places we were learning about. We made a move to My Maps (a google map builder that saves finished maps in drive). Over the years we made individual maps for different topics: Mansa Musa Haij, Presidential Election of 2016, Greece Enduring Impacts, etc.. This year, however, we went to a 7th grade in Review. On this map we added only major event, concepts, or ideas from the year. I was thinking this would make a great review tool of the whole year.
My Maps allows you to add several things:
1. The Basics: How to use my maps
2. How to add Google docs to your my map. Think Google documents, slide shows, etc.
My Maps allows you to add several things:
- pins/icons (hundreds of customizable icons and you can even make each pin a pic. customize them, Like the $ sign in the Mansa Musa Haij meaning the Gold mines)
- Add youtube clips
- Add images
- Add notes
- Add links in the notes, to your google documents or to any website.
- Draw lines (trade routes, movement of troops, etc)
- Change the map design (political, physical, etc.)
1. The Basics: How to use my maps
2. How to add Google docs to your my map. Think Google documents, slide shows, etc.
|
JC Lenk and I talked about how we could make an electronic portfolio of the key ideas and concepts they learned and then start a new layer in my class. This way they would have one file (one visual map) to reference for quick review of material they have learned both years, but often forgot the details as time passes. A six grade sample looks like the one to the right.
Then, when they enter my class they will add 7th grade layers to created a much more detailed map (Greece, Rome, Middle Ages, West Africa, Exploration, etc). With each click of a layer, more details and information is added to the visual map. The example below is live. You can click and see what is really on the map (Please note, several are examples and might not show much detail--I will do another post when the students finish--You will see their work). |
|
By Memorial day, the current 7th graders should have "finished" the map for this year. They will have add about 30 icons to the map. They will then export the my map (Export as KML) and import into the webbased new google earth. Then they can fly around the world looking, reading, watching the content they created and learned in this class for years to come.
I envision, the 8th grade teacher picking up and adding a new layer next year that covers early American History. It will be awesome to see the three years combined in google earth. What an exciting and innovative way to "See" what they learned in middle school history classes.
What are your thoughts?
I envision, the 8th grade teacher picking up and adding a new layer next year that covers early American History. It will be awesome to see the three years combined in google earth. What an exciting and innovative way to "See" what they learned in middle school history classes.
What are your thoughts?
RSS Feed
