Google Earth

  I just finished sitting through a one hour presentation on using google earth in the classroom.  Although it was mostly focused on Social Studies and English topics, I discovered some nice uses for the math classrooms.

I was impressed by what I saw including the measurement tool and the historical photos to see change. I loved the way I could look at so many different views of the same place.  So some of the ideas I came up with for the math class.

1.  Using a topographic overlay of say mountains or valleys, students can calculate the slope for parts of the mountains.

2.  Using a map with a word problem so students see the actual route for a rate, time, distance problem to compare two different routes.

3.  Calculate area of certain geometric shapes on the planet, for instance the NYC metro area.  Students could easily look up the population and use the two pieces of info to find population density.

4.  This lesson is designed for students to compare ski runs to find the most extreme and longest ski run.  I think many kids would find this lots of fun, especially if into extreme skiing.

5. Use trig to figure out the height of something like a balcony out of Romeo and Juliet, a flag pole, something they can see in real life from the pictures.  Many times you can find a well known building, you know the height and the distance, so you figure out the angle.

6.  Look at the ways to get from point A to point B.  Figure out the distance for each route and explain which is the best route.  They could even figure out the % difference for each route and then rank the best routes.

7.  Figure out the distance the balloons the Japanese released in World War Two, look up the time it took and then have students calculate the rate.

8.  Use google earth to find the distance for several western trails used in the westward expansion, figure out the time it took to travel each trail and calculate the rate.

I see so many cross-curriculum uses for google earth and math.  The above are just off the top of my head so now I'll just think about this and share a few more ideas when I get another list put together.

Schoology

I am getting quite a few students signed into schoology. So far my seniors have reacted the most positively because the interface reminds them of facebook. One of them posted a comment before anyone else.  I had a hard time getting them to actually log off and start today's work.  The next step after I get everyone registered and on is to start sending information to them so they will get in the habit of checking for messages or posting messages.  This means I need to start a discussion so they can comment tomorrow.  I think the discussion will focus on the word problems they are working on.  Since I work with ELL students, I am trying to increase the opportunities they have to communicate both in written and oral formats. 
Early next week, I am going to have them use a google earth math lesson so they know more about using the program.  I know there is one on linear equations and I need to see if there are others they can use.  On Thursday afternoon, I get to help the tech dept run a training session on using Nearpod.  I am so excited about that.

New Quarter and learning menus

I want to start learning menus to provide a quarter or chapter end option to prepare them better for the major tests.  Yesterday's idea with the geoboard and Book Creater apps made me realize, I have all the apps I need to set it up and start doing it.  I am not utilizing the full potential yet and this is one way to increase student knowledge of both Math and the mobile devices.  I have showme, garage band, notebooks, book creator, google earth, an app with a word type creator, a spreadsheet and a power point type app.  These alone can give me a good supply of apps to create a menu to meet the different learning styles of the students.  I could easily give them half the period on Friday's to work towards completing the projects. 
I am going to put Google earth on the iPads this weekend along with garage band and schoology so I can implement activities from Real World Math in my classroom, teach them to make pod casts and have a place to pass out and receive work, information, etc.  By the end of the year, my classroom will be so much more integrated than it was last year.  My goal is to have my teaching so it has technology integrated into it effectively by 2016.
This morning on the warm-up, I gave my students a question on the type of triangle that is the basis for a Nautilus and they promptly pulled up the web browser to find the answer.  They showed enough interest so that Monday, I will be playing a short podcast/video from iTunes university on the topic.  Talk about a learning moment. 

I know what I will be doing this weekend.

Google Earth

I have run across this before but keep forgetting about it. There is a great website called Real Math whose author created over 30 real world math activities based on google earth.  I know there is a google earth app for the iPad because I put it on my own.  So now I can add it to my classroom set.  The author has divided the lessons into 5 groups, concepts, project based, measurement, exploratory and space.  Under exploratory, I found one titled whale watch that sounds quite interesting.  In addition, he has tutorials and teacher materials in addition to the student materials.
I look forward to trying some of these activities in my classroom so it gives students some experience with seeing the connection between math and real world. 
I also got a note about illuminations from NCTM reminding me about this.  Unfortunately, many of the lessons require flash and cannot be used on the iPad.  Illuminations has 108 online activities and 607 lesson plans.  It just means you try some of the activities on your iPad to see if it works.  Many of the lessons do work.  So give it a look.