Google Earth Lit Trips (English 11): Final Project for Book Choices

Activity Overview

Students will build a Google Earth Lit Trip as part of the process of reading a novel. Each student will collect pieces of information from each section of a novel to incorporate in their group’s Lit Trip. The information will include place markers (locations in Google Earth), images, websites, and discussion questions. The group of students will collaborate and use all of their information to create a detailed Google Earth Lit Trip.

Objectives

Student will summarize and reflect on a novel by creating a Google Earth Lit Trip.

Prior Knowledge

Before starting this project, students will need to be familiar with the basics of using Google Earth. During this project, the students will learn the following in Google Earth:

  • Creating Placemarks (Video Tutorial)
  • Edit and reposition the placemarks
  • Add images and website links to the placemarks
  • Capturing the Best Location View
  • Creating a path
  • Recording a tour (Video Tutorial)

Procedure

1.Now that you have finished the novel you will create a Google Earth Lit Trip that follows the plot and gives interesting details and reflections about the story.

2.The class will be split up into groups according to what book you have read. For each section of the book, each member of the group will be responsible for collecting one aspect of the Google Earth Lit Trip.

  • Important Locations/Placemarks in Google Earth (at least 1 location for each chapter)
  • Images that relate to that section of the book (at least 1 image for each chapter)
  • Websites that relate to that section of the book (at least 1 website for each chapter)
  • Discussion question (at least 1 for each chapter)

3.For each section, one person will collect locations, one person will collect images, one person will collect websites, and one person will write discussion questions. For the subsequent section, the four team members will rotate roles. For example:

Section / Placemarks / Images / Websites / Questions
1 / Student A / Student B / Student A / Student B
2 / Student B / Student A / Student B / Student A
3 / Student A / Student B / Student A / Student B
4 / Student B / Student A / Student B / Student A

4.We will learn how to use Google Earth and create placemarks, create a path, record a tour, etc.

5.Complete at least 10 placemark descriptions (including images, websites, and discussion questions). As a group, you will compose a section summary for each placemark. The summary will be included in your placemark description. Please have at least one placemark from each of the following sections(for a total of 10):

  • The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 1-8; 9-15; 16-20; 20-26; CA
  • The Kite Runner 1-9; 10; 11-14; 15-20; 21-25
  • The Glass Castle one from each part

Project Deliverables

  • Google Earth Placemark with Summary, Images, Website Links, and Discussion Questions for each section
  • Complete Google Earth Lit Trip for Novel

Project Assessment

Category / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Summary / Paragraphs are well-written and accurate with detail. / Paragraphs are well-written and accurate but lack detail OR are accurate with detail but have errors. / Paragraphs have errors and are inaccurate but include detail. / Paragraphs have errors, are inaccurate, and lack detail.
Placemark / Locations selected tie directly into main setting of the section / Locations selected indirectly tie into the setting of the section / Locations selected do not tie into the setting of the section / No placemarks
Images / Meaningful and relevant pictures illustrate place markers / Relevant pictures illustrate place markers / Pictures that illustrate the place markers are not closely tied with the events of the story / No pictures
Websites / Meaningful and relevant website are part of the place markers / Relevant website are part of the place markers / Websites that are part of the place markers are not closely tied with the events of the story / No websites
Discussion Questions / Discussion questions are thoughtful and interpretive of the text / Discussion questions are thoughtful and/or interpretive of the text / Discussion questions are not thoughtful and/or interpretive of the text / No discussion questions

Sample Project Timeline

  • Introduce the project. Brainstorm places that are in the book.
  • Review steps for Creating Placemarks (Video Tutorial) and Edit and reposition the placemarks
  • Review steps for Add images and website links to the placemarks and Capturing the Best Location View
  • Review steps for Creating a path and Recording a tour (Video Tutorial)
  • In class time and out of class time to compose each chapter’s placemark

Due: Tuesday, April 13