Author

Leanne Swansburg, AVRSB

Title

"Google" Around the Earth

Grade Level

Grades 7 & 8

Subject Area

Physical Education – Fitness Running Program

Overview of unit/lessons/activities (assumptions of prior knowledge/learning)

Students will track their running distances, in class, then take that information, input the distances into Google Earth and see where in the world they can travel to. The students will have a project to complete based on their destination.

Correlations to ICT and curriculum outcomes

BOC 9.1     operate a wide variety of school media, computer, and other educationally appropriate equipment for learning, communication, and the representation of their learning, independently and safely with teacher supervision

BOC 9.2     use and create information texts in a range of media, using specialized text features of those media to support the communication, with teacher assistance

BOC 9.4     demonstrate comfort with keyboarding and manipulation of computer input and peripheral devices as they work

BOC 9.5     manage their electronic files and correspondence efficiently

SEHI 9.3     understand, model, and assume personal responsibility for the acceptable use of copyrighted and other information resources

PTS 9.2     explore curriculum concepts under study using specialized software; measuring, sampling and recording equipment; and computer-based simulations, with teacher assistance

PTS 9.3     explore the curriculum through a wide range of print and electronic forms; accessing and processing information by means of the specialized techniques associated with the technology they select

RPSD 9.1     select appropriate measuring and recording devices and/or software to collect data, discover patterns of change over time, solve problems and make logical decisions based on their investigations; with teacher assistance

RPSD 9.2     create and use electronic charts, maps, tables, graphs, spread sheets and databases to collect, analyse and display data independently

RPSD 9.3     write and represent their research using the structures, features, conventions, and techniques of specialized publication and presentation formats with growing fluency

RPSD 9.4     assess the quality, comprehensiveness, biases, and perspectives of print, media and electronic resources for use in their curricular studies, with teacher guidance

Projected timeline for preparation and for carrying out activities

Three month total time period (5 fitness runs – once a cycle for 8 cycles)

Equipment Requirements: (computers, software, etc)

Access to computers
Google Earth® program (and basic knowledge),
Running Log Blackline Master for recording distances

Teaching materials provided (Blacklines, worksheets, templates, teacher materials)

Running Log:
running_log.rtf            running_log.pdf

Resources available for teacher/student use (websites, references, etc)

http://www.olympic.org/uk/index_uk.asp

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/health_and_fitness/default.stm

http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/index.shtml

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcindex.htm

http://www.mapsofworld.com/olympic-trivia/host-cities-of-olympics.html

Detailed instructions for each activity or lesson (teacher notes, activity information, learning strategies, teacher role, student roles)

This unit involves approximately a three month period of fitness runs that will be completed once per cycle (once every eight days for our school), during five grade 7 & 8 Phys. Ed. classes. For my purposes, I have determined that the distance around one lap of the gym, at BRHS, will be equivalent to 100km. The students track the number of laps they run each class by recording them on a Running Log sheet.

Grade 7s will start by running 6 minutes the first class, 6 minutes 30 seconds the second class, 7 minutes the third class, etc, until they have each run 5 times (for a total of 8 minutes on the final run).

Grade 8s will start by running 7 minutes the first class, 7 minutes 30 seconds the second class, 8 minutes the third class, etc, until they have run 5 times (for a total of 9 minutes on the final run).

After their fifth class, students take their tracking sheet to the computers and open Google Earth®. Students will choose the ruler tool and put a point on Bridgetown, NS, where they will all start. They are then required to drag that point anywhere in the world, keeping in mind that they can only travel the number of kilometers that are on their recording sheet. Students are asked to pick a destination that is in the vicinity of their point and complete tasks based on that destination.

Student products expected

Students at the grade 8 levels will have the choice to create a PowerPoint presentation, a poster, a comic strip, a brochure, or use another method of presentation to relay information on a sport that is played in their destination country.

Students at the grade 7 levels will have the opportunity to do the same mode of presentation but will research a day in the life of a middle level student from their destination country.

Please note: If students are planning to use images in their presentations, they should be provided with information on use of copyrighted images. Students should be encouraged to search for images using the Creative Commons search engine, found at

http://search.creativecommons.org

Samples (include teacher notes, assessment information, student work if available)

Sample Running Logs
Grade 7:
running_log_sample_gr7.rtf           running_log_sample_gr7.pdf

Grade 8:
running_log_sample_gr8.rtf           running_log_sample_gr8.pdf

Sample comic - Grade 8
gr8_sample_comic.bmp

Sample PowerPoint - Grade 7
gr7_sample_day_in_life.ppt           gr7_sample_day_in_life.pdf

Logistics (organization, grouping, management issues, access to technology)

For my classes, I plan to sign out the laptop cart and have students bring their log sheets with them to class after their five running classes. Students will be responsible for tracking their own progress and completing their own assignment, as a project mark for Phys. Ed.

Assessment information (e.g., rubrics for products and/or process)

Rubric for Grade 7:
google_earth_rubric_gr7.rtf            google_earth_rubric_gr7.pdf

Rubric for Grade 8:
google_earth_rubric_gr8.rtf            google_earth_rubric_gr8.pdf

Possible extensions

Adaptations for students requiring additional support