Pack your bags We're going to Rome! A Differentiated Google Earth Project exploring the Monuments of Ancient Rome Objectives • Research monuments in Ancient Rome • Create a placemark in Google Earth • Write a description of your monument • Embed audio, photograph, or 3D image in each placemark
Content: Roman history Geography Ancient Roman Culture Grade level: 912 Subject area: Latin Prerequisites: Basic research skills Basic knowledge of Roman history, culture, geography Internet search and research strategies Standards: National Standards for Foreign Language Learning Cultures Connections Comparisons Communities NETS*S 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2d, 3b, 3c, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d
Lesson Description Google Earth Roman Earth layer allows students to explore the ancient world in a way that no textbook or history book can. As the students explore the Ancient Rome layer, they will identify monuments of particular interest and significance. Students form collaborative groups, using Google Documents to allow for team work in researching and exploring monuments. As the groups begin their research, they determine which modality of project they prefer to collaborate on. Students may choose to create a description of their monument in audio, visual, or 3D visual format (using Google SketchUp). Students select appropriate photographs (either by contacting creators of copyrighted media or using Creative Commons) to visually represent their monument. They write a description of the significance of each monument in the ancient world and indicate the role that building played in everyday life in Ancient Rome. Specific instruction may be necessary to assure that students understand how to find acceptable images and properly cite all works referenced. As the research concludes, guided instruction will be needed in creating placemarks in Google Earth. The teacher will provide a template of HTML code for students to establish a format for the placemarks; students familiar with HTML code may choose to expand on the template that has been provided. Students who have created mp3 files will embed an object allowing the audio to play within the placemark. Students who have created SketchUp models of monuments will save their projects in the Google Warehouse and will place their monuments in Google Earth and save the monument as a KMZ file. The placemarks will be collected in a common folder to create a class tour of Ancient Rome. Technical support may be necessary to assure that the final Google Earth Tour of Ancient Roman Monuments will be viewable to a wider audience. Students are responsible for documenting their works cited, both in their research and in the images/audio referenced. Once each Google Earth Tour has been completed, classes will explore their own and other classes’ projects. Students will reflect on the process and final product of the Roman Monuments project in light of their own learning and the challenges they faced and overcame. Teamwork and meeting deadlines are to be considered in both the teacher's and students' assessment of the project. These concluding thoughts will be written in Google Docs, allowing the teacher as a viewer. As students continue their study of Latin language and ancient history, they can continue to expand their tour of Ancient Rome using Google Earth Ancient Rome layer. Future tours can be created by students to accompany further readings in ancient history and in Latin literature.
Equipment needed Students must have email and computer access. A computer laboratory with Google Earth installed is necessary for class instruction with Google Earth Ancient Rome layer. For students choosing the audio or SketchUp options, recording software and Google SketchUp need to be installed.
Assessment Successful completion of the project including all deadlines met and all components included. Links Free Google Earth 5.0 Download @ http://earth.google.com/ Free Google SketchUp Download @ http://sketchup.google.com/download/ The Google Earth Blog @ http://www.gearthblog.com/ Ancient Rome in 3D @ http://sites.google.com/site/3dancientrome/Home
Images: Colosseum from Google Earth Ancient Rome captured with Jing Colosseum by Charles P. via flickr Arch of Constantine by Søren Hugger Møller via flickr Photo editing done in Picnik
Project Created by: Mrs. Danja Mahoney, Reading Memorial High School, Reading MA