1-Pager
Plan
Week 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Activities
Earth and Sky Exploration Day - Introduce students to Google Earth, guiding them to explore different landscapes on Earth and compare them with other planets. Discuss what makes Earth unique. (15 min)
Clay Model Creation - Students choose their favorite Earth feature from Google Earth and create a clay model of it, fostering hands-on learning and engagement. (15 min)
Shape Safari Introduction - Engage students in a Google Earth Shape Safari, where they hunt for shapes and letters visible in satellite images. Discuss how these shapes relate to real-world objects. (15 min)
Shape Collage Activity - Using craft materials, students create collages of the shapes and letters they found, enhancing their creativity and understanding of Earth's features. (15 min)
Weather and Earth Discussion - Introduce basic weather patterns and how they affect Earth's surface, using Google Earth to observe real-world examples. (15 min)
Planet Earth Journal - Students draw and write about one new thing they learned about Earth's weather patterns, fostering self-reflection and identity building. (15 min)
Deliverables
1. Clay models of favorite Earth features created by each student.
2. Completed Shape Safari checklists with identified shapes and letters.
3. Reflection sheets with students' thoughts and connections between shapes/letters and real-world objects.
Preparation 1. Ensure all students have access to devices with Google Earth installed.
2. Gather materials for clay modeling (e.g., clay, modeling tools).
3. Prepare a classroom space for clay modeling activities.
4. Create a checklist for the Shape Safari activity to guide students in identifying shapes and letters.
5. Prepare reflection sheets for students to document their findings and thoughts during the Letter Hunt Reflection Day.
Week 2
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Activities
Exploring Weather Patterns - Use Google Earth to observe and identify different weather patterns around the globe, discussing how these patterns impact various landscapes. (15 min)
Weather Impact Art - Students draw a scene showing how weather affects a chosen environment from their Google Earth exploration, encouraging creativity and understanding of Earth's systems. (15 min)
Shape and Letter Scavenger Hunt Preparation - Discuss and prepare for a scavenger hunt activity where students will match real-world objects to shapes and letters found on Google Earth, using checklists and drawing interpretations. (15 min)
Scavenger Hunt Practice - Conduct a practice scavenger hunt in the classroom or school yard, where students identify and match shapes to real-world objects, enhancing observation skills. (15 min)
Letter Hunt Reflection Day - Review favorite letters or shapes found on Google Earth, with students sharing their interpretations and how these relate to real-world objects and environments. (15 min)
Planet Earth Journal Entry - Students draw and write about what they learned from the week's activities, focusing on the uniqueness of Earth's features and weather patterns. (15 min)
Deliverables
1. Completed 'Shape and Letter Scavenger Hunt' checklist with identified real-world objects and corresponding satellite images.
2. Individual contributions to the class mural, featuring a section with a satellite image, description, and connection to Earth's features.
3. Entries in the 'Planet Earth Journal' where students draw and write about daily learnings, focusing on Earth's uniqueness and weather patterns.
4. Participation in the 'Letter Hunt Reflection Day,' sharing insights on favorite letters or shapes found and their real-world significance.
5. Engagement in the 'Story Circle,' sharing personal weather-related experiences and connecting them to satellite image observations.
Preparation 1. Gather craft materials such as glue, scissors, colored paper, and markers for the collage activity.
2. Prepare printed satellite images from Google Earth, highlighting various landforms like mountains, rivers, and forests.
3. Ensure Google Earth is installed and accessible on classroom devices for students to use during exploration sessions.
4. Create a checklist for the 'Shape and Letter Scavenger Hunt' to guide students in identifying shapes and letters found in satellite images.
5. Set up a space for the 'Story Circle' where students can comfortably share their experiences about weather and its effects.
6. Prepare a large poster board or wall space for the class mural where students will attach their satellite image findings.
7. Organize materials for the 'Planet Earth Journal,' including drawing paper, crayons, and space for students to write about their daily learning.
Week 3
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Activities
Finalize and Review Alphabet Book Contributions - Students review their 'Planet Earth Alphabet Book' pages, ensuring each page includes a drawing and a description of how the letter or shape connects to Earth's features. (15 min)
Peer Review and Feedback Session - Students pair up and provide feedback on each other's book pages, focusing on clarity and connection to Earth's unique characteristics. (15 min)
3D Earth Model Construction - Collaboratively build a 3D model of Earth using recycled materials, highlighting key features from Google Earth that make our planet special. (15 min)
Class Mural Assembly - Begin assembling the class mural with printed satellite images, ensuring each student's section represents their discovered letter or shape with a short description. (15 min)
Art Show Preparation - Set up the 'Satellite Image Art Show,' arranging the class mural and individual drawings for display. Students practice explaining their projects to visitors. (15 min)
Reflective Story Circle - Host a final reflective story circle where students share how their understanding of Earth and its features has evolved, connecting personal insights to their project work. (15 min)
Deliverables
1. Completion of individual pages for the 'Planet Earth Alphabet Book', each featuring a letter or shape discovered on Google Earth, with an accompanying drawing and a sentence explaining its connection to Earth's features.
2. A collaborative class mural created from printed satellite images, where each student contributes a section representing a letter or shape they discovered, along with a description of what it represents and how it connects to Earth's features.
3. A 3D model of Earth constructed from recycled materials, showcasing key features identified during their exploration.
4. Reflection pieces in the 'Planet Earth Journal', where students draw and write about one new thing they learned each day, focusing on Earth's uniqueness and weather patterns.
5. Participation in the 'Satellite Image Art Show', where students display and articulate their learning journey through their alphabet book pages, 3D models, and class mural.
Preparation 1. Gather art supplies such as large sheets of paper, markers, paints, and craft materials for creating the class mural and individual pages for the 'Planet Earth Alphabet Book'.
2. Print out satellite images that students have selected and identified as part of their alphabet book contributions.
3. Prepare a space in the classroom for the 'Satellite Image Art Show', including tables for displaying the 3D Earth models and wall space for the class mural.
4. Set up digital devices with Google Earth ready for any last-minute explorations or reviews needed by students.
5. Coordinate with the school staff and send invitations to parents for the 'Satellite Image Art Show'.