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Plurk - Plurk
Grades
9 to 12
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Plurk is a microblogging platform for quick 140 character "plurks" about what you are doing, thinking, or mentally asking. Plurks show as a timeline along with those of your friends....more
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Plurk is a microblogging platform for quick 140 character "plurks" about what you are doing, thinking, or mentally asking. Plurks show as a timeline along with those of your friends. Comments to plurks are attached to the original and conversations are easy to track and continue. Plurk brings interconnectivity between friends and is more like a social network than a blog. Registration with an email is required and managing login and password is necessary. Instant messaging and mobile blogging options are possible.
In the Classroom
This site is not difficult to navigate. Left click on the timeline to drag it to earlier posts. Unread plurks and replies appear as a number beside each plurk and in the timeline. Along the top of the timeline are user controls. "My profile" contains your contact information and details. Upload a photo, customize the colors of your outline, or add a widget to your blog or site that contains your plurks. Use "My friends" to invite friends, create cliques that allow you to segregate who sees certain plurks, and blocking other users. "Alerts" contain friend requests sent to you. Click on "Interesting plurkers" to see plurks from everywhere which you can customize to gender, age, city, state, or country. Use "My account" to change privacy settings and set up instant messaging. Create your plurks below the timeline and use the dropdown to change your verb from "is" to "says," wishes," "feels," and many others. Hover over a person's picture or name to send a private plurk. Plurk messages can be edited but replies cannot. Pictures, images, and links can be added as well. Also below the timeline are tabs to see plurks from you and your friends, your plurks alone, and private plurks. View your Karma -- which increases with plurks and friends and unlocks new features. Use "Embed your Plurk widget" easily to your blog by simply entering your login information.Create a written and signed classroom policy that outlines necessary privacy settings and actions that would be considered misuse. Check these regularly and take appropriate actions to enforce rules when needed. Students need to be guided in how to safely blog and share information. Students may come across questionable content if reading through the "interesting plurkers" tab. As with all social networking sites, students need to be aware of proper ways to communicate at school and at home. Teachers should be a part of all student groups to monitor use.
Students can use Plurk to discuss group work on a project, create study groups, ask for help, or communicate with those who can mentor their class or subject they are learning. Many students will find success with sending bits of information at a time and letting the conversations evolve from there. Literature teachers may want to require students to plurk their thoughts within small groups as they read chapters or acts of longer works for homework, generating discussion and active reading. Social studies teachers could assign a similar task as students read about history. Math teachers may want to encourage "plurking" as students work on longer, more complex problems. Those writing lab reports for science class may find that plurking will help them collaborate in interpreting data. Consider setting up a regular class "plurk time" in the evening on certain nights of the week or for snow days.
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Real World Math: Using Google Earth in the Math Curriculum - Real world math
Grades
5 to 12
3 Favorites
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This site uses Google Earth to teach Math! If your school does not allow access or installation of this free software, use this site as justification for the power of ...more
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This site uses Google Earth to teach Math! If your school does not allow access or installation of this free software, use this site as justification for the power of GE in the curriculum. Use higher level thinking skills and provide active learning by using the lessons on this site. Visit the "Lessons" page to view lessons grouped into four categories: Concept Lessons, Project-Based Learning, Exploratory, and Measurement. Use the "Community" page to collaborate or submit lesson ideas. Click on the "Update" page to view new lessons or resources added. The "Resource" page contains links to other sites and tutorials that are useful. NOTE that you must have the FREE Google Earth reviewed hereinstalled on your computer to use these terrific ideas.
Be aware that the "Community" link has been moved off-site and is designed for teachers, not students.
Be aware that the "Community" link has been moved off-site and is designed for teachers, not students.
In the Classroom
Use this site to access lessons that bring Math to life and provide relevance to the students. These lessons provide an option to use higher level thinking skills that provide true understanding and learning of Math concepts.Have students complete these lessons and share their finished products on an interactive whiteboard or projector.
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Big Huge Labs: Map Maker - John Watson: Big Huge Labs
Grades
2 to 12
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Create maps -- for multiple reasons -- with ease. As you 'travel' through your geography or history course, create an ongoing map of the places you've visited and embed/post it ...more
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Create maps -- for multiple reasons -- with ease. As you 'travel' through your geography or history course, create an ongoing map of the places you've visited and embed/post it on your blog or any webpage. Simply type in the title of your map, choose the land masses you wish to include, and then click on the correct boxes for your particular locations. When finished, click the You're Ready box at the bottom of the screen. Now scroll to the top to see what your map will look like. The embed code (geek-speak term for computer gobble-dee-gook that tells your computer how to find and display the map you have made) for your map is ready to copy and paste into your webpage. You can find the embed code to the right of the map. There is also a button to Reset and Start Over.
In the Classroom
Create a map to track where your students went on summer vacation (or have ever traveled). Create a map of places you have visited in a work of literature, or where students have written about going on fantasy vacations. Share the maps on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups work together to create maps related to lessons in your social studies, history, or literature classes. Embed multiple student project maps in your class wiki along with student writings that accompany the maps. Check out the Big Huge Labs educator account. Easily pre-register students to avoid creating logins, view and download their creations, and view the site advertisement free. You will find information about the Educator Account here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Residence Of The Prime Minister Of Japan
Grades
9 to 12
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Special features: bilingual - This site has info on the Prime Minister of Japan. It includes his reports, speeches, policies, press conferences, budgets, etc. It also contains statistical...more
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Special features: bilingual - This site has info on the Prime Minister of Japan. It includes his reports, speeches, policies, press conferences, budgets, etc. It also contains statistical information on Japan which may be useful. One interesting area is the opinion section.
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AllMyFaves - AllMyFaves
Grades
4 to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Not sure what sites exist for your topic? Start here and find sites listed by icon for Art, Encyclopedia, History, Languages, Science, Writing skills, Music, and numerous other topics....more
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Not sure what sites exist for your topic? Start here and find sites listed by icon for Art, Encyclopedia, History, Languages, Science, Writing skills, Music, and numerous other topics. Whether you are searching for research information, enrichment, or tutorials - check out this site. Notice that TeachersFirst is among the "faves" for teaching!
In the Classroom
Why search for these sites, when the links can all be found in one place? Use this site in combination with TeachersFirst's rich reviews. Students can use these links as a springboard to research and projects. Be sure to save this site in your personal favorites! There is a lot to explore. List this site on your class website and/or wiki for students to access both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mysteries of the Nile - PBS Online
Grades
7 to 12
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Take a virtual field trip though the pyramids, temples, and architecture of ancient Egypt. The most impressive feature of the site is a self-guided QuickTime tour through the Land of...more
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Take a virtual field trip though the pyramids, temples, and architecture of ancient Egypt. The most impressive feature of the site is a self-guided QuickTime tour through the Land of the Pharaohs that offers dozens of impressive 360 degree photos. Originally designed as a companion site to a NOVA program, the site could be the focus of a great computer lab activity for an ancient history unit.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities housed in the "classroom resources" portion of this site! This site would be great for ANY unit on Ancient Egypt, regardless of the grade level.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Serving - Our Voices - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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No, it's not blood and gore up close, but rather a collection of audio reminiscences from American veterans about their experiences in wartime. Created by the Library of Congress as...more
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No, it's not blood and gore up close, but rather a collection of audio reminiscences from American veterans about their experiences in wartime. Created by the Library of Congress as part of their Veterans History Project Collection series, these stories are surprisingly personal and therefore all the more powerful. Choose from a variety of topics on the left menu including different wars.
In the Classroom
Use the audio interviews (with an image of the speaker) on an interactive whiteboard or projector to show students what the war was like from the perspective of people on the ground, and the difference between the first hand account and the textbook. This is a great way to not only teach the content, but display for students the difference between a primary and secondary source. To further argue a point, use a Venn diagram on the interactive whiteboard to graphically display the differences. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Archaeology's Ancient Olympics Guide - Archaeological Institute of America
Grades
8 to 12
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This informative site delves into the ancient tradition of the Olympic games and provides brief, but interesting essays on Olympic myths, games for women, and the history behind Olympic...more
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This informative site delves into the ancient tradition of the Olympic games and provides brief, but interesting essays on Olympic myths, games for women, and the history behind Olympic competition. There is also a new link all about the cultural heritage of Beijing.
In the Classroom
Use this site for a jigsaw activity on the culture importance of the festival of Olympia in ancient Greek society. Learn how to have a jigsaw activity at Jigsaw Classroom, reviewed here. Have students work with partners and read the interviews about Beijing.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Veteran's Day Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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Explore these resources for ideas you can use to connect classroom curriculum to Veterans Day. Whether you choose to focus on Veterans Day and its history for one class period ...more
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Explore these resources for ideas you can use to connect classroom curriculum to Veterans Day. Whether you choose to focus on Veterans Day and its history for one class period or to include a special curriculum project in honor of veterans, these ideas and resources will get you started.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the resources in this collection to add to your classroom during a unit on Veteran's Day. The links on this site could be used for lesson plans, webquests, learning centers & the like!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The China Guide - The Great Wall of China - The China Guide
Grades
3 to 12
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The China Guide offers a fantastic panoramic video of the Great Wall of China. Throughout the panoramic video, viewers can choose to enter various areas of the structure and "walk"...more
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The China Guide offers a fantastic panoramic video of the Great Wall of China. Throughout the panoramic video, viewers can choose to enter various areas of the structure and "walk" to other areas and towers along the wall. Snippets of history and other explanations are provided while taking the tour. The site provides a realistic opportunity for students to view the Great Wall of China in a manner other than pictures. Many of the photos appear in pop-up windows, so you need to turn off your pop up blocker for THIS site only.
Be aware: this site was created by a travel agency, so you will encounter some advertisements for booking trips.
In the Classroom
This site would be a great introductory lesson into a unit on China. Show the panoramic video on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Allow students to conduct the walk by choosing where the video takes them. Have students explore this site with a partner and then find a photo (legally permitted) of the Great Wall of China. Have students use PowerPoint Online, reviewed here, to narrate the photo that they chose. To find Creative Commons images for student projects (with credit, of course), try Vecteezy, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Reading in the Content Areas - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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TeachersFirst offers a collection of web resources well suited to teach reading in the content areas, especially in science and social studies classes, but in almost ANY subject area....more
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TeachersFirst offers a collection of web resources well suited to teach reading in the content areas, especially in science and social studies classes, but in almost ANY subject area. See ideas and strategies for teaching reading across the curriculum and find texts to use on the computer, in print, on an interactive whiteboard, or with a projector. Sometimes using web-based texts can be more engaging, and often these are more up-to-date in content.
In the Classroom
Mark this collection as a MUST have for teaching reading to students struggling to apply more than decoding skills. Pay special attention to some of the "In the classroom" tips for unexpected ways to use these sites to teach reading along with other subjects.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Exploratorium - Science of Baseball - Exploratorium
Grades
4 to 10
1 Favorites
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The Science of Baseball is the Exploratorium's collection of activities and descriptions involving physics, biomechanics, and baseball. This website takes a topic that students love...more
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The Science of Baseball is the Exploratorium's collection of activities and descriptions involving physics, biomechanics, and baseball. This website takes a topic that students love (baseball) and puts it into scientific terms to enhance the educational experience. What makes a curve ball curve, anyway? How quickly does a batter have to react to hit a ball thrown at 95 miles per hour? There's lots of real-world physics at this site, and the presentation is engaging as well as instructive.
In the Classroom
Treat your students to this content-rich website using your interactive whiteboard or projection screen. Take your class outside to try their hands at some of the experiments. Or have cooperative learning groups explore different sections of this multi-faceted website. What a fantastic way to excite your students about learning science.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Welcome to the New Russia
Grades
9 to 12
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This site is designed for tourists, and contains lots of good basic information on Russia. Colorful graphics and an easy-to-follow layout allow you to virtually explore Moscow, St....more
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This site is designed for tourists, and contains lots of good basic information on Russia. Colorful graphics and an easy-to-follow layout allow you to virtually explore Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Trans-Siberian Railway or the main waterways. You'll also find links to Russian history, art, architecture, and other interesting facts. Click on "The Gazeteer" for a summary of Russia today, or follow the "Activities" link to find out about wildlife preservation of the Siberian tiger.
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite on classroom computers, and have students look at individually. Have students examine the different sections of the site, and then create a "travel brochure" for Russia. Use an online poster creator, such as Padlet (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Paper Models of Polyhedra - Gijs Korthals Altes
Grades
6 to 10
1 Favorites
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This simple, "hands-on" website offers PDF files of numerous paper models of Polyhedra. The files are ready to print and share with your students. The various geometric solids include...more
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This simple, "hands-on" website offers PDF files of numerous paper models of Polyhedra. The files are ready to print and share with your students. The various geometric solids include platonic solids, Archimedean solids, Kepler-Poinsot Polyhedra, and numerous others. The files are available in PDF format and require Adobe. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox.
In the Classroom
Why not print a pattern onto cardstock or other thick paper. Then project the image (that you printed for your students) onto a projection screen or interactive whiteboard, while students work independently at their seats. Before you pass out the paper copies, have them view the projected image and predict what it will be. These shapes can also serve as creative study aids for all subject areas, especially for students who need engaging ways to review. Have students write key terms and questions on the "faces" before assembling the figures, then "roll" them as a study game, testing each other to define or explain terms.
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Inventing Modern America: Games - Lemelson-MIT
Grades
5 to 12
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Students dream about becoming an inventor. This site shows that even the smallest item in life, such as the paper clip, was once invented by 'someone.' You can promote ...more
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Students dream about becoming an inventor. This site shows that even the smallest item in life, such as the paper clip, was once invented by 'someone.' You can promote creativity and encourage 'thinking outside the box' through this site. Play the 'Which Came First' game at this site to see if you can guess which invention came first, especially in conjunction with a social studies class on the inventors and industrial revolution. (Warning: It's harder than you think!) Or you may opt to play the 'Invention Connection' game, a challenging activity that builds higher level thinking through attribute listing and looking for common characteristics of diverse inventions. For pure information and inspiration, click on the five featured inventors to find video footage and other information about their lives and inventions.
In the Classroom
Use an interactive whiteboard to play the games in science class as you talk about inventions, engineering, and the inquiry process that drives them or as an interdisciplinary connection in your lessons on inventions and the Industrial Revolution.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Baseball Reference - Sports Reference, LLC
Grades
4 to 12
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Come to this website for one-stop learning about baseball. Some of the many activities and links at this website include "Stathead," "Teams," "Players," "Seasons," and more. ...more
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Come to this website for one-stop learning about baseball. Some of the many activities and links at this website include "Stathead," "Teams," "Players," "Seasons," and more.
In the Classroom
Use the information at this website in math or history class. This is great supplemental material for statistics, U.S. history (since 1880s), African-American history, and others. Have students use this site for individual research projects about topics provided at this website. Use the "Stathead" information as an anticipatory set for a math or statistics lesson.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Afghanistan - Country Studies - Library of Congress
Grades
8 to 12
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This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations,...more
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This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations, and the material will be challenging for some students.
In the Classroom
Teachers will find these summaries useful for their comprehensive scope, which frequently includes historical and cultural background information. Much of the content is 5 or more years old, so these pages are best used for historical or background information.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Apollo 11 - NASA
Grades
4 to 12
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA ...more
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA site recreates that Apollo 11 mission, from its launch to its splashdown. Students can view vintage photographs, listen to the mission's audio recording, browse news articles, and tour the video gallery.
In the Classroom
Use the video clips over the interactive whiteboard to supplement the text in discussing the Apollo missions. The clip of the first landing would be a great way to introduce the topic, putting all students at the same level of understanding before beginning a lecture or class discussion. Great resource for a US history classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Greeks - PBS
Grades
7 to 12
2 Favorites
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Part of the PBS Civilizations series, this site explores ancient Greece, complete with virtual tours of the acropolis and the Parthenon temple. In the Greeks Interactive section, students...more
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Part of the PBS Civilizations series, this site explores ancient Greece, complete with virtual tours of the acropolis and the Parthenon temple. In the Greeks Interactive section, students can view interactive maps and experiment with the Greek alphabet. There is also an educational resources section, complete with lesson plans for using the site.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on the Ancient Greeks. Have students explore the site in cooperative learning groups on classroom computers. Have students research specific aspects of the site, with the intentions of students "teaching" their peers about the many different sections. Have students create paper-posters OR use an online poster creator, such as Padlet (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Google Earth - Google
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
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Bring the world into your classroom with Google Earth. This interactive view of the Earth (and more) is available on all web browsers. Find landforms, geographic locations features,...more
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Bring the world into your classroom with Google Earth. This interactive view of the Earth (and more) is available on all web browsers. Find landforms, geographic locations features, pictures, and more from around the world using this satellite-powered software. As you spin the globe, you can tilt to view locations at an angle to show elevation, click to play a "tour" or "fly" from one location to another, or simply open tours and placemarker files created by others. Once you are comfortable, try making tours and placemarkers of your own.
In the Classroom
Use tutorials from this site to learn more, or try some Google Earth files from TeachersFirst's Globetracker's Mission to get a taste of what the program can do. Get started by exploring the different LAYERS available in the left side and searching a location you know. Locate and try the tools to drag, tilt, zoom, and even measure distance. Extensive user forums are available through the help menus.Placemarker files created by you "live" on the computer where you make or save them and are not shared on the web. Note that your computer will ask whether you wish to save your "temporary places" (any places you have marked during a session) each time you close Google Earth. If many students use that computer, you may find you have a disorganized mess of saved places. Be sure to direct students to either name their saved places logically and file them into folders or NOT to save them to My Places! Students and teachers can create placemarker (.kmz or .kml) files and share them as email attachments, files on a USB "stick," or any other means you would use to share a file, just like a Word document.
Another practical tip: if students are using Google Earth on several machines at the same time, you may put a heavy load on your school network. Plan accordingly, perhaps having groups alternate their Google Earth time if it becomes sluggish.
Use Google Earth to teach geography or simply give location context to class readings or current events, especially on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Ex. you can tilt to show the peaks scaled by Lewis and Clark or volcanoes that rise in the Aleutians. Have students show the locations of historic events or literary settings and create placemarkers with links to learn more. Placemarker text is editable by going to the placemarker's "properties" or "info," so students can enter the text description, place title, and any inks they want to include, such as a link to a certain passage of text, an image of a character, or news image/article for a current events map. Students who know html code can get even more sophisticated in what they include in placemarkers. Have students/groups create and play a "tour" of critical locations for global warming, a comparison of volcanoes, or a family history of immigration. Navigate the important locations in a work of literature using Google Lit Trips or search the web for placemarker files connected to civil war battles, natural resources, and more. Turn layers on and off to look at population centers and transportation systems. Teach the concept of scale/proportion using a tactile experience on an interactive whiteboard and the scale and measurement tools. See more ideas at the teacher-created Google Earth 101 wiki reviewed here. Even if you do not venture into creating your own placemarker files, there are many already made and available for use by teachers and students. TeachersFirst's Globetracker's Mission includes a weekly file to follow the Mission.
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