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For the research sharing I concentrated on the Sun, Moon, and Stars unit for Grades 3-6. The Strand for this would be Standard E:Earth and Space Science and the standard would be E4.4 Identify celestial objects (stars, sun, moon, planets) in the sky, noting changes in patterns of those objects over time Some ideas for integration would be to do a social studies project on the history of astronomy. For instance, in Greek mythology the Big Dipper was identified with a legend. The Native Americans also had stories that identified the stars and named lunar years. The students could each do a research project to find such a story or legend. In English the students could write their own story of how a group of stars got its name. For math, you can use the distance of stars and planets to calculate units of measurement. For differentation, I would have students who are struggling use a pre-printed piece of paper that has objects in the sky on in with dots, and then trace the dots to form the objects in the sky. I would also pair up students who are struggling with students who really get the concept and have them buddy together to study the unit. Another extension of this unit would be to go on a filed trip to the planetarium at Memorial High School.

Jill-This is awesome. I've done this with my kids before. Great resource!

Google Earth can be used for so many different things in the classroom. I think you would be able to find good projects and lessons for most grade levels. With the younger kids you can explore the surface of the moon as a class. Older students can look up specific volcanoes and study the effect the volcanoes had on surrounding areas. The opportunities are endless! In terms of earth and space science, students can use Google Earth to explore the many features that exist on earth's surface (mountains, valleys, rivers, etc.) You can choose to look at all the major volcanoes on the surface of the Earth, or study the fault-lines and areas at risk for earthquakes. Google Earth also has a sky feature, in which users can explore the stars and constellations in the sky. You can also explore Mars and the Moon. Just a couple earth science standards that are met are: Science, Standard E: Earth and Space Science, 4th Grade: E.4.4 Identify celestial objects (stars, sun, moon, planets) in the sky, noting changes in patterns of those objects over time E.4.6 Using the science themes, find patterns and cycles in the earth's daily, yearly, and long-term changes Another really cool thing about Google Earth is the ability to watch an area over a span of time. This could definitely be used in the social studies classroom. Students can what the surface of the earth looked like during the time of the ancient Romans, and then can explore ancient Rome in 3D. You can also practice your piloting skills by trying out the flight simulator. Google Earth can be downloaded in several different languages. If you have a classroom with a large majority of Spanish-speakers, it would be a good idea to have Google Earth in Spanish on the computers, as well as in English. Also, students can work together in groups to explore Google Earth. If one student has more experience working with computers, he/she can help a different student with less experien

This is also cool. It is an online community for teachers, and includes lesson plans, tutorials, and tips all regarding how to use Google Earth in the classroom. http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/Home