4^th Grade 6.6.A.6   -   Google Earth  Social Studies - Geography Lesson

[Created in 2008]

            Google Earth is free software that utilizes three-dimensional imagery provided from satellites, GIS, and aerial photography to show the earth’s surface.  Three-dimensional real-time images of mountains, terrain, buildings, cities, and points of interest are able to be viewed and “flown over”.  Similar to the Wikipedia concept of worldwide knowledge sharing, Google Earth is fabulously thorough and somewhat irritatingly incorrect at the same time.  Satellites and 3D GIS come from NASA, and major international geological think tanks as well as Tom, Jose and Mahatma home-based geospatial traveler adding to the Google Earth community with overlays, add-ons, and downloads that range from excellent to seemly excellent but have major inaccuracies.  For example, I was looking for an image overlay to add the world time zones to my lesson plan and the most recent is very good except it doesn’t actually fit over the Google Earth properly as it requires major geometrical polygon playing to do accurately, and a prior version had two time zones in the US backwards.  In addition, my specific address and house is incorrectly marked as located on my neighbor’s house, which is behind my house, on a differently named (but adjacent street).  (Privately, this is fine with me as my privacy is respected.)

            I created a fourth grade Social Studies Geography lesson to meet a portion of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standard 6.6.A.6 which states:  “Locate time zones, latitude, longitude and the global grid.”  It is a cross-curricula learning activity that also meets 4^th grade NJCCCS 5.8.D.1.  This Earth Science standard states that students should be able to use maps to locate and identify physical features on the Earth.  In addition, it will help fourth graders to gain a new enlightened perspective of the earth and give them a jump start to the 5^th/6^th grade NJCCCS 5.8.D.1 which states:  “[SWBAT] Use tools such as map projections and topographical maps to interpret features on the Earth’s surface.”

            The lesson plan is as follows:  Within one class period, students will individually locate and write the exact (or approximately exact) latitude and longitude of various given locations on the global grid using Google Earth with 100% accuracy.  Please see link below for student instructions and the answer page for reporting the latitudes and longitudes.  Teachers should ensure the Google Earth icon is on each computer and working properly.  I have used the free downloadable version to create this lesson.

            This cross curricula Geography/Science/World Perspectives lesson creates truly meaningful learning.  It appeals to visual learners and spatial learners as well as mathematical, analytical types that will appreciate the accuracy, grid, and real world perspective.  Instructions are detailed and thorough enough for the lower half of the class and the activity is engaging enough for the highest achievers.  It requires students be intentional by giving them well-constructed goal in the given locations, and active in learning by using Google Earth.  As this is an interactive computer related activity, utilizing real-world data and information, I am sure they will be reflective, constructive and very articulative about this activity throughout the day and well beyond, as well as be able to contextualize knowledge and learning into practical applications.  Who knows which student will create the next version, overlay, or travel into the Google Sky?  Any students fiddling around in other areas would be enthusiastically encouraged to continue at home.  In conclusion, this learning activity is as multi-faceted as each of the students using it, and will create an authentically meaningful learning and knowledge that will last a lifetime.