Exploring Language Arts with Google Earth

Why Google Earth for English teachers? Develop student narratives by examining settings Research author’s biographies Explore literature through virtual trips (Lit Trips) Create student projects Design cross-curricular lessons

Concrete Details for Narratives Students can examine settings of real places to develop strong concrete details when writing narratives Helpful whether for exotic locales or popular places that students have never been to Type a location into the Search field In the Layers Panel, check specific points of interest (geographic web, street view, places of interest, etc.). These points will offer photos and additional information

Try It Out: Examine settings Type “Honolulu, HI” into the Search field In the Layers panel, check “Geographic Web” to see photos and other information (you can also check other points of interest – street view, etc.) Scroll your mouse to zoom in and out of specific areas of Honolulu Click on photo icons to see actual photos taken Use the joystick to change your aerial view

Research Author’s Biographies Do this as an “Intro” or “Pre-Reading” Activity Example: William Shakespeare -Type Stratford upon Avon into the Search Field -See photos of Shakespeare’s birthplace -Read Wikipedia articles on Shakespeare and his hometown -Compare past and present-day Stratford

Explore Literature through LitTrips Teacher-generated “trips” were created using Google Earth to enhance exploration of literature Visit for free downloadswww.googlelittrips.org Example: My Brother Sam Is Dead  In this Lit Trip, the teacher incorporated chapter summaries, relevant photos, discussion questions, and links to additional resources for student exploration

Create your own Lit Trip! provides video tutorials of Google Earth and sample lit tripswww.googlelittrips.org With your place-based story, visit specific settings and add a “placemark”. o You can custom design your placemark. Add a description. o Write text or using html add photos and links.  Add a path.  You can create lines between placemarks.

Student-generated Lit Trips Students can create their own Lit Trips too! o Example: Into the Wild by Jon KrakauerInto the Wild Great as a Class project or Individual projects -Students can be assigned specific chapters -Use for poetry, author study, or independent reading