The Tech Savvy Teacher

The subject of space is far too fascinating and boundless to limit it only to making solar system mobiles or looking at star-charts. This is especially true with the equally boundless technological resources we now have available. I have been recruited to write this article by the district to help educators better understand the great benefits of technology integration in the elementary science classroom. To do so, we will look at the following example of effective technology integration in an activity for Utah's 3rd grade science Standard 1, Objective 1 (describing the appearance of the Earth & moon).

As we teach science, we try to give our students a realistic education regarding their environment. However, as we are limited in time and resources, we often fall short in reaching this goal. In teaching about the appearance of the moon and earth, programs known as Google Earth, Google Sky, and Google Moon may help students gain a realistic impression. These programs allow users to explore actual satellite photos from space. Google Earth, which must be downloaded is most detailed, allowing users to zoom in as far as individual buildings, and to zoom out until the planet is only a speck among stars. It also allows users to pan around the entire surface of the earth. Google Moon, which is available online, is more limited in its panning and zooming abilities, but it has detailed descriptions and pictures wherever ships have landed. Google Sky, also available online, is most useful in getting a full scale picture of the moon so students can understand what its shape and general appearance from space.

Google Earth

Google Sky also allows users to view different planets, stars, and moons.

Google Moon has indepth photos both from the satellite and from astronauts during missions.

For the activity, the class would start by using a large class KWL chart (listing what we know, what we wonder, and what we learned), as the teacher facilitates by writing students’ ideas on the board. They would list what they knew and what they wondered about how the earth and moon look from space. The teacher would then let students explore Google Sky to look at the moon from its zoomed-out perspective, Google Moon for a closer perspective, and Google Earth (access to a computer lab is necessary, and it might be helpful to have these programs all up on each computer before the activity starts). The teacher should encourage students to use the panning and zooming tools so they can gain a thorough understanding of what things look like. Have them record their thoughts and observations. After students have finished exploring, gather together as a class again to find out what students learned and finish the KWL chart. Having students make their own observations and use the KWL chart encourages them to use the scientific inquiry abilities for grades K-4 such as asking questions about objects in the environment, conducting a simple investigation, using simple tools to gather data & extend the senses, use data to construct explanations, and communicating those explanations.

There are active icons and objects all over Google Sky on which users can click to find out some interesting facts and information.

This activity could be easily adapted into a full scale lesson plan with such ideas as creating a scavenger hunt for the students as they explore Google Earth, Moon, & Sky. It could also be expanded into lessons about various space missions, such as Apollo 13, since Google Sky is rich with actual pictures taken during different missions, maps of where they landed, and descriptive text. One other idea would be to use Google Sky to track daily satellite pictures of the moon in order to better understand moon phases. As you continue to search and utilize such technology in your lessons, you will help further the worlds of your students and become a “tech savvy teacher.”