1. 6th Grade geography unit
Ursula Rumann
Jack Brumback

2. General Description
A unit focusing on the Geography & History of Minnesota
Learning how to use current online GPS tools (Google Maps & Google Earth)
Gaining a desire for adventure

3. Standards
People use geographic representations and geospatial technologies to acquire, process and report information within a spatial context
Geographic factors influence the distribution, functions, growth and patterns of cities and other human settlements
The meaning, use, distribution and importance of resources changes over time
Historical inquiry is a process in which multiple sources and different kinds of historical evidence are analyzed to draw conclusions about what happened in the past, and how and why it happened

4. Unit Outline
Day One
Introduce the basics of Google Maps & Google Earth to students. First they will learn by exploring with the programs and then a teacher led instruction of multiple aspects of the programs.
45-60 Minutes
Assessment – Will be a Google Maps or Google Earth scavenger hunt to find locations with the techniques learned earlier. This will be a group assessment.

5. Unit outline
Day Two
Students will recollect a memorable trip in their lives, it may be physical, mental, or emotional. Next, talk about the history of road trips in America to the class. Introduce final activity that students and their partners will make a road trip on Google Maps or Google Earth through Minnesota exploring the whole state.
45-60 Minutes
Assessment – Students will write a journal entry about their road trip and leave it for teacher to read.

6. Unit outline
Day Three
Students will create a virtual road trip using Google Maps or Google Earth. They will explore different regions of Minnesota by writing highlights of that part of Minnesota and why it is important to the state. Students will also give facts about landscape, population, major cities.
3 days of worktime – 1 hour at least per day, 1 day for presentations (1 hour minimum)
Assessment – Each pair of students will present their road trip, highlights, and the facts about each region. They will also present total mileage at the current price for gas their in parents car, or a dream car found online.

7. Goal/objective
To show students the importance in Technology in geography, and letting students get a virtual view of parts of the state they have never been to. Also, to instill a sense of adventure with a drive to travel.

8. Questions?