Google Headquarters
Mountain View, California
Mountain View, California
Attending the Google Geo Teachers Institute was an incredible experience for me!
The intensive two-day institute included presentations from outstanding educators and quality hands-on sessions to help teachers learn about Google Maps, Google Earth, and SketchUp.
(I even got to meet Alex Trebek after he hosted National Geographic's Google Geography Bee!)
:-)
* * * * *
(I even got to meet Alex Trebek after he hosted National Geographic's Google Geography Bee!)
:-)
* * * * *
Google Earth is amazing! This free software allows anyone to view the world in 3-D. Below is an introductory video I made using Google Earth. I included a few features I learned about.
Click on the triangle to watch the video!
Below is a slideshow I put together of my time at the institute. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the Google building, but I took plenty of pictures outside. The inside pictures were provided by the Google photographer.
* * * * *
My third day at Google was spent working with Dan Beaupré from National Geographic. Along with several other educators, we looked for ways to incorporate Google Earth and the Giant Traveling Map program.
Click on the triangle to watch the video!
* * * * *
* * * * *
My third day at Google was spent working with Dan Beaupré from National Geographic. Along with several other educators, we looked for ways to incorporate Google Earth and the Giant Traveling Map program.
National Geographic has many programs to help teachers and students learn more about geography.
National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Maps, produced by National Geographic Live, tour the country’s schools, bringing hands- and feet-on geography education to 200,000 students each year. Designed to promote geographic literacy by igniting interest in geography, the maps and accompanying activities incorporate physical movement and games to teach students place names, physical, and cultural geography as well as map reading skills.
These enormous floor maps of Africa, Asia, North America, and South America are available for loan, each accompanied by a set of ready-to-use activities and game props.
How would you use Google Earth in the classroom?
These enormous floor maps of Africa, Asia, North America, and South America are available for loan, each accompanied by a set of ready-to-use activities and game props.
Schools: The fee for schools to borrow a National Geographic Giant Traveling Map in the 2010–2011 school year is $450 (for the minimum two-week loan). Additional weeks cost $225/week.
Long-term loans (from 6 weeks to 48 weeks) are available at discounted rates. For information, contact Dan Beaupre at dbeaupre@ngs.org
Watch students on the Giant Map of Asia!
Watch students on the Giant Map of North America!
Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge.
Important Dates to Remember
Important Dates to Remember
- Register by October 15, 2010 for a fee of $90. After October 15 until final deadline of December 10, fee is $110.
- School-level Bees: November 15, 2010 - January 14, 2011
- State-level Bees; Friday, April 1, 2011
- National Finals: May 24-25, 2011
* * * * *
Have you used any of these Google products?
How would you use Google Earth in the classroom?
Where would you go?
