Submitted by: Lois Invernizzi
School: L. Douglas Wilder Middle School
Summary
The class was presented with a real life, choose your own adventure scenario using Google Earth involving 2 celebrities (can be adapted depending on school demographics). Students will use the measurement tool in Google Earth in order to determine distances between 2 points in centimeters. Students must then convert their answers to scientific notation; i.e.- Distance from Quebec to Montreal = 23,400,000 cm to 2.34 x 107.
TIPC Ratings
Developing – This project does not rely heavily on research and information fluency, but can easily be adapted to require the students to delve further into online researching and investigation.
Developing – Students worked in pairs in order to complete this project. Students were also able to share, compare, and contrast the .kmz files via virtual share.
Approaching – This lesson required the students to take a mundane task (converting large numbers to scientific notation) and apply it in the real world using the 3d mapping software Google Earth. Students had to make decisions pertaining to a real-world authentic task that they could relate to. The teacher provided the students with a choose your own adventure kmz file that students were able to manipulate in a meaningful way. The students had to manipulate the file in such a way that allowed for precise measurement, the choosing of location markers, and recording of information in the description boxes. They were also responsible for taking those measurements and converting them from standard measurement to scientific notation.
Ideal – This lesson was a great lesson to do before the winter break. It engaged each and every student and acted as a great way to get the class accustomed to using a fairly complex program. The format and the way the lesson was presented interested all students in the class. Students who are typically “not motivated” enjoyed the “choose your own adventure premise”, and this lesson acted an extremely creative way of having the students learn scientific notation. It also gave the children flexibility when allowing them to choose to measure a location not predetermined by the teacher.
