Each year our third graders move through this three-week unit to give them exposure to Google Earth and to practice using this amazing tool. In the process, they also gain an understanding of what school looks like around the globe.
With NO INTRODUCTION, I read My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang. The story follows a child as they navigate great waters, but we don't see where they are headed until the very end - school! Discussion of our methods of traveling to school follow as well as watching how children around the word navigate this journey. We pick out a few countries and find them as I demonstrate using Google Earth. To close, students draw a quick informal map showing their route to school.
We start this week by reading Rain School by James Rumford, then taking a look inside 27 classrooms around the world. Students watch this video twice, scanning for specific details the second round. After a quick review of Google Earth navigation, students complete a checklist of different things to find using Google Earth on their own.
This week begins with Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia by Jeanette Winter and a quick video of the real-life Luis. I then demonstrate navigation of a Google Earth Voyage. Students head to their devices and take the voyage once independently before filling out a guide as they investigate the details on their second time through.
Get the whole folder including a unit plan, slides, checklist, and voyage guide. Take a look, find what you'd like, and select File-->Make a Copy to create an editable version for yourself.