Posted by David Wetzel
Google Earth View of Sicily's Mount Etna Eruption 2002
Almost everyday a natural disaster occurs somewhere in the world. These disasters include volcano eruptions, flooding, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, and more.
Most students rarely have a personal encounter with the effects of natural disasters, during their school years. However, almost all will have an encounter sometime during their lifetime.
The most common encounter for everyone with a natural disaster is by watching TV or reading about them on the Internet. This leads to little personal interaction and understanding of the causes of the disaster.
There is one technology today which allows students to watch natural disasters unfold or see the effects after they have occurred — Google Earth.
This free technology provides students with a bird’s eye view of a natural disaster area with remarkable high resolution. Students and teachers have access to this technology and they can investigate the cause and effect of any natural disaster in the world.
Project Based Learning: Studying the Effects of Disasters
When word of a natural disaster is spreading from somewhere in the world or announced on the news, students can use Google Earth to conduct an investigation of the disaster’s effect.
If enough warning is given, for example a hurricane or typhoon; students can view the expected land fall areas before the storm strikes. Then they can view the effects after the hurricane or typhoon passes through the area.
Other natural disasters students can investigate include:
- Volcano Eruptions – investigating lava flows, impact on surrounding vegetation, impact of surrounding region, and if there will be a global impact.
- Earthquakes – investigating the impact on cities, human development activities, and land masses.
- Major Floods – investigating flooded regions, along with impact on watersheds.
- Tsunamis – investigating the destructive power of Tsunamis, by comparing before and after images of a seashore area and surrounding landscape.
Problem Solving: Studying the Cause and Effect of Specific Natural Disasters
Students develop and create a variety of questions to guide their investigations related to a natural disaster. Then use Google Earth, Online Media, News Reports, Twitter, and Skype to follow through on their investigations. Examples include:
- What is the impact on local residents?
- What is the impact on the stability of man made dikes that hold back flood waters?
- What continents are likely to be affected by the ash fallout from the volcano eruption?
- What protection measures did the region have before the Tsunami struck the coast?
- What type of plates make up the San Andres fault in California?
- What other volcanoes are in the area and are they likely to erupt?
Additional Science Projects Using Google Earth
Google Earth and Global Warming Projects
Thematic Units Using Google Earth
Posted by David Wetzel
Earth Day is around the corner - April 22nd - and every year teachers and students try to come up with new and innovative activities.
Recycling is a popular activity to keep the idea recycling going strong. Classrooms often come up with ideas to recycle paper, ink cartridges, plastic bottles, metal cans, and newspapers.
However, there are other recycling activities that students can get involved in to support Earth Day.
First, lets take a look at some recycling facts related to the United States.
Recycling Facts
The Hershey Company in the US produces about 20 million kisses each day using 133 square miles of aluminum to wrap them in; this material is recyclable and most of it ends up in a landfill.
Statistically the United States recycles just about 28 percent of its waste today, which is doubled from what it was a decade ago.
The United States recycles about 53 percent of the paper consumed.
The United States makes up about 5 percent of the world’s population and produces 1,609 pounds of trash per person, every year. This results in 5 percent of the world’s population producing about 40 percent of the worlds waste.
Considering these facts, there is still need for improvement.
Recyclable Materials Often Overlooked
Crayons
One of the most popular coloring and writing instruments in schools today. Instead of throwing worn, broken, and neglected crayons in the trash - Why not recycle them?
- More than 12 Million Crayons are made in the US, EVERY DAY! 100 New Crayons equal about 1 pound, let’s do some math.
- 12 Million Crayons equals about 120,000 pounds, which equals 60 Tons of Crayons made EVERY DAY with petroleum based wax!
- Recycling crayons has made it possible to stop more than 52,000 pounds of unwanted crayons from going into landfills with the help from schools, organization, educators, and kids across this country.
How to recycle these artistic instruments - simply throw unwanted crayons in a sturdy cardboard box (leave paper wrappers on) and when the box is full, mail it to:
CRAYON RECYCLE PROGRAM
721 Village Road
Pelican Lake, Wisconsin 54463
They will take all these unwanted crayons and recycle them to make brand new crayons.
DVDs/CDs/VCR Tapes
The recycling of DVDs/CDs/VCR Tapes saves substantial amounts of energy and prevents significant amounts of both air and water pollution attributed to the manufacturing of these items.
- A DVD/CD/VCR Tapes is considered a class 7 recyclable plastic
- To manufacture a pound of plastic (approximately 30 DVDs/CDs per pound), it requires 300 cubic feet of natural gas, 2 cups of crude oil, and 24 gallons of water
- It is estimated that it will take over 1 million years for a DVD/CD/VCR Tapes to completely decompose in a landfill
Since DVDs/CDs/VCR Tapes a class 7 recyclable plastic - many recycling centers will not take them. If a recycling center cannot be located locally, box them and ship to:
ACT
2200 Burlington
Columbia, MO 65202
Act requests submission of an Online Donor Form prior to shipment.
Alternative Community Training (ACT) has been a nationally accredited, not-for-profit agency providing support and assistance to adults with disabilities.
All DVDs/CDs/VCR Tapes should be separated from packaging materials and cases.
Additional Earth Day Resources
Environmental Uses of Phone Books
Math and Science - Integration with Environmental Science
Bottled Water Versus the Environment - Case Study
Air Pollution a Concern for World
Posted by David Wetzel
Using the iPod Touch in the Classroom
There are many electronic tools for teaching and learning math and science in schools; however, the iPod Touch offers the opportunity for “Learning-in-Hand.”
These management and technical issues include how to name the iPods, recharging , syncing, accessories, play-lists, transferring apps, iTunes account, and many more.
Like all technology tools, classroom management is always an issue. Here are a few recommended ” Dos” tailored for a classroom set of iPod Touches.
Management for Success
The following are dos are designed to ensure smooth and effective classroom management.
Secure Storage - security is the key to using them for a long time. Unfortunately schools have become the target for theft of electronic devices, this problem requires serious consideration.
Syncing - ensures that all iPod Touches have the same software and supporting applications. This leads to the important fact that all iPods being used should be synced using the same computer to avoid any differences which may occur between computers.
Names - each iPod Touch should have its own unique name. Examples are - Science 01, Algebra 01, General Math 01, Physical Science 01, etc. Why is this important? When syncing each iPod Touch with a computer it will be easier to ensure each iPod is loaded with the correct software and applications.
Ear-buds - each iPod Touch should have an Ear-bud for listening during interaction with science or math applications. Sanitizing after or before use procedures should be in place. Sanitizing wipes are always a good thing to place on a list when parents ask what can they donate to the classroom.
Web Clips - both Safari and Leopard operating systems provide the ability to select websites or selected pages of websites which can be added to each iPod. This short cut allows students to visit supporting websites without the need to type in a URL.
Recharging - recharging ipods is always an issue. There are several products on the market for recharging a classroom set of iPods. The following is recommended based size of classroom set:
- 20 iPods - Economical choice is the ParaSync, which uses original Apple iPod connectors for docking iPods.
- 20 iPods - Apple/Bretford Case houses iPods in foam lined case for storage and charging.
- 40 iPods - Apple/Bretford Cart which has wheels for portability between classrooms and has foam lined storage when charging.
Play-lists - these are categories in which all applications should be loaded. The purpose of these play-lists is to make it easier for students to find the appropriate application needed for a specific lesson. Play-lists can be labeled as General Information, Period 1, Period 2, Math Club, Science Club, etc.
iTunes Account - load iTunes on the same computer used to sync the iPods. Having the iTunes account on one specific computer ensures the identification and password are located only on this computer. More than one computer with this information increases the opportunity for unauthorized access.
Consequences - this is an unfortunate factor which must always be considered when using technological tools with students. Student contracts, signed by students and parents are typically effective.
Sometimes I would use a digital flip camera mounted on a tripod and projected on a screen or whiteboard to watch students. I would start by showing specific aspects of the lesson on the screen using the camera. After the lesson started, I would adjust the view of the camera to the general direct of trouble some students. This served as an effective deterrent.
Free Math and Science iPod Touch Resources
10 Science iPod Touch Applications for the Classroom
10 Math Applications for the iPod Touch
Times Tables - provides several learning tools including a simple 6×6 grid of math multiplication facts, flash cards, an apple orchard demonstrating multiplication, sequential and random drill modes, and score tracking for multiple players (iTunes).
Science Quiz - provides quizzes for the following areas Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology, Earth Science, Inventions, and Space Science (iTunes).
101 Science - challenges students in grades 5 - 8 with questions about Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, and General Science (iTunes).
Polar Sweep - reinforces relationships between rectangular coordinates, polar coordinates, and basic trigonometry with a dynamic educational interface. Students can sweep through the circle to see changing values and helpful diagrams of right triangles for common angles (iTunes).
