Recommended Website:
Google Lit Trips
http://www.googlelittrips.com/
Age Range: 5-17 (Grades K-12)
A teacher came up with the unique idea to take a digital book from children's literature and plot out the characters' travels with the digital mapping tools of Google Earth, providing a multidimensional learning experience. Students can take a virtual field trip in real time to visit the places mentioned in the book, making it even more relevant and meaningful.
When you get to the website you'll see a welcome message and featured highlights. Frankly, if this is your first visit, the home page can be confusing. Your best bet is to click on "Getting Started" on the menu and listen to the interview with the teacher who developed this concept. Then, watch the video tutorial that explains how to use Google Earth and how to use Google Lit Trips. All of the tools you need can be downloaded for FREE at the site.
Once you understand how to use Google Lit Trips, select the grade range appropriate for your child. Then get ready to experience the Google Lit Trips that have been created by various teachers for their favorites children's books.
Grades K-5 - You'll find "The Yellow Balloon," "Paddle To The Sea," "Make Way for Ducklings," and "By The Great Horn Spoon."
Grades 6-8 - Includes "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "The Slave Dancer," and "My Brother Sam is Dead."
Grades 9-12 - Get the "Aenid" by Virgil, "Candide" by Voltaire, "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, "Night" by Elie Wiesel, and more.
Click on the title to access the Google Lit Trip complete with the digital book, text and illustrations, and a virtual journey that will bring it all to life.
This is a new venture, but as it catches on more and more titles for Google Lit Trips will be added. The potential is exciting!
Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
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I would have chosen a different book title or two, like Around the World in 80 Days, but hey it's still cool!
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1 comment:
I did this over the summer with my girls and had no idea anyone else had! We read The Trumpet of the Swan together, and I had them summarize each portion of the book as I pinned the location on the map. I'm currently doing the same thing with The Black Stallion with late-elementary kids at my co-op. I hadn't thought of Around the World in 80 Days, but that seems like an excellent choice for my next reading project with my own girls!
The kids really love to watch the zooming of the map and see what things look like, but it's also really good for them to summarize the story as we go. Knowing they'll need to do so keeps them engaged (if the story doesn't - LOL). One of the biggest delights was when we got to Boston's Public Gardens on Google Earth and saw the very swan boats that are mentioned in the book. E.B. White described places with amazing detail, and we could pick out exactly the spots he was talking about as we flew in with Google.
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