3 Web 2.0 Tools

Today’s reflection is going to be a bit trickier for me. As a 3^rd grade teacher, I find that many of my students are just starting to gain computer/technology skills. I am excited about the prospect of finding a way to creating some exciting lessons from what I am learning in this class.

I am going to continue to focus on using Google Earth for my lesson. First of all, I don’t know a great deal about this particular 2.0 tool, but I have been looking for an opportunity to use it. I also feel that this would be the perfect tool to excite my students. We have iPads in my room, and this would be something we could do in Centers. Google Earth would work with analyzing, evaluating, and creating according to the revised chart.

I was thinking that I would like to do sort of a virtual field trip with my students.  I teach Social Studies to all three of the third grades at my school.  This allows me time to plan more elaborate activities than I might do if were just in my class. One of my favorite subjects to teach about is The Westward Movement.

I was thinking that I could give my students various stops along some of the trails that were traveled. They could write a journal, collect pictures, check weather, calculate miles, and learn about some of the illnesses. These are just a few…
I think the most important first step would be to have the students “play” with Google Earth.  I would first show them some of the basic features using small groups and the Promethean Board. From there I would have them experiment with the features on the iPads . I think it would be helpful to have an example to show the students of a different “trip” such as Sacramento to Disneyland perhaps, and I would show them this before they get directions for their project.

From there, I would explain to them what I was asking them to do.  I would have directions written out for the Oregon Trail, The Santa Fe Trail, Mormon Trail, and The California Trail.  Students could choose the one they wanted. They rest of the activity would be the same.  I would try to use as many different sites as possible.

Of course this is just a rough outline of what I would like to attempt. My goal would be to create a project that was truly something special.