Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places, and share with others.
Via Amy Cohn
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Google Earth is a great teacher and student resource.
Aligning with the Stage 2 syllabus outcome to
"examine features and characteristics of places and environments" the multi-dimensional aspect of this mapping program allows the students to explore the different characteristics of the Australian landscape, looking out for changes in terrain or identifying iconic buildings and natural phenomena specific to different areas around Australia. You can explore the differences between states and their climates and the iconic features that are individual to each.
This program could be used as a teacher run activity where the whole class examines the same map on a projector or interactive smart board and the teacher is able to navigate students around the map.
This could also be used by students on either a computer or tablet, getting them to explore different states and territories and come up with a list of characteristics and features for different parts of Australia whether in terrain view, or 3D view etc. This task could be an individual task or one where students are divided up into groups for a particular area.
This sort of individual, independent task allows students to take a self directed inquiry based approach to their own learning. According to Kriewaldt and Boon it important for students to be progressively working towards designing their own investigations to collect geographical data and draw their own conclusions (2012, p.132).
References:
BOSTES NSW. (2016). New NSW Syllabus: Geography K-10. Retrieved from http://syllabus.bostes.nsw.edu.au/hsie/geography-k10/ ;
Kriewaldt, J. & Boon, D. (2012). Geographic Inquiry (Chapter 9). In Taylor, Fahey, Kriewaldt & Boon. Place and Time. Explorations in Teaching Geography and History. Frenchs Forest: Pearson Australia