Julia Schneider Lesson Plan using Google Applications in the Classroom Activity: Scavenger Hunt: Capital Cities of the

United States Subject Area: History/Social Science Grade Level: 5th Prerequisites: Basics of Google Search and Google Earth Teachers should use one class period to introduce Google Earth to the students and demonstrate how it is used. Students should be comfortable with it in time for the next class period when the activity will take place. National Educational Technology Standards for Students: 2a: Communication and Collaboration- Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media 3b: Research and Information Fluency- Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media 3d: Research and Information Fluency- Process data and report results Description of Activity: In this activity, students will use Google Earth to locate the capitals of the selected states. They will use clues to determine which capital city is being described. Students will use Google Search to identify the correct capital from the clues presented. Using Google Earth, students will then use place markers on the capital when it is found. The questions below are taken from a sample Google Earth Lesson Plan. (http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/classroom-resources/lesson-planlibrary) Use Google Search to help identify each state capital. 1. The Willamette River runs through this capital city. 2. This state capital hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. 3. The Broncos play football in this capital city. 4. Harvard is in a suburb of this state capital. 5. This capital city is located in Leon County. 6. The translation for this capitals name is Sheltered Bay. 7. This capital city is across the Gastineau Channel from Douglas Island. 8. Abraham Lincoln lived in this capital city from 1837 until 1861. 9. This capital was established near Fort D.A. Russell.

10. The "First Transcontinental Railroad" linked this capital city with Sacramento, California in the 1860s. Students will then plot the answers to these questions on Google Earth. Assessment: Students will be assessed on the correct place markers of each capital and their ability to navigate through Google Search and Google Earth.

To make this lesson plan simpler, instead of asking students to identify the capital of state, students can just identify the state being described by the clues. The students would be assessed by the completion of the questions and the correctness of the answers. The following questions would be used for this lesson. Use Google Search to identify the state Ponce de Leon discovered this state while searching for the Fountain of Youth. This states nickname is the Natural State. This states national fish is the Steelhead Trout. During the 19th century, this state was famous for the intellectual activity of its writers and educators. 5. This states motto is Friendship. 6. Elizabeth City can be found in this state. 7. Since 1945, this state has been a leader in energy research and development. 8. This states name originated from an Iroquoian word meaning great river. 9. This state leads the nation in the production of monument granite, marble, and maple products. 10. This states national tree is the sugar maple. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Works Cited:
http://www.factmonster.com/states.html

http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/classroom-resources/lesson-planlibrary