Extreme Weather Key Concepts of the Weather Unit and Installing and Exploring Google Earth iLearn Science Session 1

What are the key 6 th grade science concepts in the weather unit? What is Google Earth? How might Google Earth be useful in enhancing your weather unit? FOCUSING QUESTIONS

Instruction

Framing The Session In this session we will cover: >An overview of the science standards of the weather unit >Installation of Google Earth 4.0 >Exploration of the basic tools of Google Earth

Weather Unit Science Standards Scope and Sequence Document Properties of Matter Heating and Cooling Events Physical Settings Skills

How to Download Google Earth Open up your Internet search engine MAC - use Firefox PC - use Internet Explorer Go to Double click on the blue and white striped Globe Choose your operating system Download Google Earth

Saving Google Earth onto Your Computer MAC make sure that Google Earth is being saved to your “Applications” folder PC make sure that Google Earth is being saved to your “Program Files” folder

Let’s Explore Google Earth Placemarks Measure Print Distances

Let’s Explore Google Earth Navigation Panel helps zoom in (+) and out (-) and move on the globe Tilting yields a 3D view Try the compass Under “View” click on “grid” to show longitude and latitude lines

Let’s Explore Google Earth Task Panes Search panel Fly To Places Layers

Where’s the Empire State Building? Write “Empire State Building” in the Fly To task pane Hit Enter Add a Placemark Click on the Thumbtack Name it “Empire State Building”

How far is Statue of Liberty from the Empire State Building? In the “Fly To” tab type “Statue of Liberty” & add a Placemark Zoom out (-) to see both places in the view Click on Empire State Building and click on the “Ruler” icon Click on “Line” Choose kilometers for units of measurement Drag a line between the 2 points of interest

Lesson Ideas Word Document Use this document, to any lesson ideas, questions or problems you might have in using Google Earth. Save your work as you enter data or information.

Guided Practice Now it’s your turn to use these tools. Use Placemarks and find the distances between two places of interest. Use the Lesson Ideas Word document to keep track of your observations and ideas of lessons for your students.

Guided Practice Select 2 places of interest and draw a line between them.

Work Time

Getting Started Now, you’ll get a chance to explore Google Earth’s basic tools. Use the Lesson Ideas Word Template to keep record of your observations.

Work Time Measure the distance between your school and the Empire State Building. Use the remaining time to explore the tools and aspects of Google Earth. Write down ideas for lesson plans in your Lesson Ideas Word document.

Share

In this session, we learned the basic tools of Google Earth. Now, let’s talk about how we could use in our teaching of the weather unit and some of our other science units. Share

What other lesson ideas for the weather unit came to mind? Answers

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