Our Technology/Google Earth Activity Map

Civil War – Virtual Field Trip


too see the real chart, click here
Otherwise, I just typed it up and pasted it below:


Google Earth
Travel the world without leaving home, see real-life things, more exciting and interactive than a textbook BUT current, and can't show us what it was like back then...

Webquests
Assesses Internet skills, learn about more than they intended to BUT may run into inappropriate content on the web, may be difficult for students to research
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Civil War- Experience the reality

(Video cameras)
Fun and exciting for the students, personal, get to see themselves, can replay it later BUT kids may get rowdy, takes time, students may be too shy or feel left out

(Television)
They can see themselves or they can watch a TV BUT time-consuming

(Sound effects)

Makes it more real BUT can be too distracting, loud, scary



Civil War- Role play diaries/scrapbook


(Photo Story)

Fun way to display the pictures and information all in one place, utilizes creativity BUT may be too difficult, may turn into a very time-consuming project


(Add music)
Makes it more interesting, can make it more presentable to perhaps parents BUT may take too long to find, copyright issues




Civil War- Experience the Battles

(YouTube videos)

Makes it very real for students BUT may be too disturbing, graphic, emotional

(Movies)

Usually give students an even better perspective and usually tell a story BUT may be too disturbing, graphic, emotional



Civil War- Chronology of Events

(SmartBoard)

Students can learn how to put the events in chronological order in a fun, visual, and interactive way BUT students may get too rowdy and competitive

(Buzzers)

Makes the game more fun for students to buzz when they have put the events in order BUT may be too competitive, rowdy



Civil War- Pros and Cons of the North VS the South – Study for Jeopardy with Voice Thread

(Voice Thread)

This makes the students use their oral and auditory skills- they can also learn to share information with their classmates and to study auditively and they can also feel like an expert in their area that they shared information about. Good review and preparation for the game show. More fun way to study, unique homework assignment.
BUT... This may be too complicated for fifth graders, may be difficult for visual learners, may not be the most effective study method for students

(Powerpoint)

Jeopardy on a powerpoint makes the game more exciting than simply on a whiteboard- you can use sound effects as well to simulate a gameshow.
BUT... Game may get too competitive, may not be the best way to simulate Jeopardy.





Sites to Visit and Google Tools

Gettysburg--
Explore a battle site.
Lincoln Memorial--
Reminds us how Lincoln ended slavery and the importance thereof.
(Road view, tour inside)
Southern plantation--
Give the students a taste of what the Southern life was like for slaves and non-slaves. To show the differences between the North and the South.
(Weather and terrain)
Cemetery--
To emphasize the reality and impact of how many people died.
(YouTube video)