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Summary: Elementary School students are becoming more technologically savvy. Google Sky/Sky in Google Earth are two programs that can be used to teach elementary students. These programs can be used when discussing History and Science. This module will explore ways to do that in the upper elementary grades (grades 3-6).
Summary: Elementary School students are becoming more technologically savvy. Google Sky/Sky in Google Earth are two programs that can be used to teach elementary students. These programs can be used when discussing Science and Social Studies. This module will explore ways to do that in the upper elementary grades (grades 3-6).
Introduction:
Google Sky is a new tool created by Google. In this new program, you can explore the heavens. You can see our Solar System, Constellations, and other astronomical images by clicking on thumbnails of these images. These images can be seen in infrared and microwave imaging. Images are collected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Digitized Sky Survey, and the Hubble Space Telescope. Some thumbnails provide opportunities to see images in ultraviolet and x-ray imaging. They can also be seen in historical imaging, where students can see the old maps of the heavens, drawn by Giovanni Maria Cassini (printed 1792). There are also “Earth and Sky Podcasts,” where people can listen to 90-second podcasts and read information. These podcasts discuss important astronomical events. Some of these events are dated, and some are just new developments in the world of astronomy. These resources can be used to help teach about Earth Patterns/Cycles, and Interrelationships in Earth and Space Systems. With historical imaging, you can make social studies connections by exploring Ancient Greek and Roman mythology and how it relates to the heavens. The historical development of our knowledge of space can be explored through this tool, as well.
Google Sky is an extension of Google Earth. The sky can also be seen in Google Earth (through Sky in Google Earth), which would probably be most effective for the 3-5 elementary classroom. In Google Sky, there are also links to Google Moon and Google Mars.
Google Sky is relatively new, being released in March of 2008. Google Sky is basically a web-based version of Sky in Google Earth. Sky in Google Earth was added to the most recent Google Earth, which was released in late 2007. This module will address the opportunities for both of these programs to be used in the elementary classroom.
Navigating the Heavens with Google Sky
To start in Google Sky, go to www.google.com/sky . If you have a specific image that you would like to see, you can do a search for it. On the bottom of the page, you explore several categories: The Solar System, Constellations, Backyard Astronomy, Chandra X-Ray Showcase, Hubble Showcase, GALEX Ultraviolet Showcase, Spitzer Infrared Showcase, and Earth and Sky Showcase.
When you click on the Solar System category, all of the planets appear on the bottom of the screen. Pluto is also included, despite the recent declaration that Pluto is NOT a planet. By clicking on each planet, you can find the exact location of the planet in its orbit in UTC time (Coordinated Universal Time). You can also find how long it takes light to reach the Earth from that planet. It also gives you the celestial coordinates of the planet.
In the Constellations category, you can click on the name of the constellation, and Google Sky will connect the stars to show you the shapes of the constellations. By clicking on the Hubble Showcase, you can scroll through many images captured by the Hubble Telescope. When you click on the image, a description will pop up. There will also be a link to learn more about the object. You can do the same thing in the GALEX, Chandra, and Spitzer Showcases.
The Earth and Sky Podcasts are probably the most compatible with the 3-6 classroom. By clicking on each image in this category, a pop-up description will appear. At the bottom of this pop-up is a link to a 90-second podcast. These recordings are easy for upper elementary students to understand. The pop-up also includes a link to read a full article on the topic. Earth and Sky Podcasts can also be found in Sky in Google Earth. Another podcast that can be found in this program is Hubblecast.
In Sky in Google Earth, you can see many things. You can explore galaxies, current sky events, and constellations. In the Solar System Category, you can see the planets in orbit. There are also historical maps in this program. In all of these programs, you can use the time slider to see the same celestial object at an earlier time.
For the 3-5 elementary classroom, viewing the sky in Google Earth might be very helpful. Google Sky would probably be most effective in a 6th grade classroom.
Google Sky Help Links
http://www.google.com/sky/about.html#what
- This website features a short description of Google Sky, and Frequently Asked Questions.
http://www.google.com/educators/skyideas.html
- This is a site created by Google for teachers. It gives some suggestions on how to use Sky In Google Earth in the classroom.
http://earth.google.com/sky/skyedu.html
- This website provides a short video tutorial on Sky in Google Earth. It also provides links to the Google Earth blogs and Google Help documentation on Google Sky. You can also share and find Sky files to use by clicking on the link for the Google Earth Community. Featured audio and visual Sky files can be seen by clicking on the link to the KML gallery.
Google Sky in the Classroom
Because Google Sky is such a recent application, there are not many examples of its use in the classroom. In searching the Internet, I found 1 item on TeacherTube, where someone tried to show that Google Sky is not difficult to navigate. So, instead of showing classroom examples, I will give some examples of how it can be used in the class.
Take a virtual field trip through space! Using a projector, you can show Google Sky on the ceiling, to simulate looking at the sky. If your class was small enough, you could use a tent. Have all the students sit in the tent, and project the image onto the inside roof of the tent. This will simulate looking at the sky even more closely. You can look at the planets in orbit, and other great images, in connection with a science lesson.
Using the historical imaging, you can learn about the development of theories about the Sun-Earth-Moon relationship and geocentrism. In exploring this, you can make connections between science and social studies. Since the only featured historical imaging was drawing by Giovanni Cassini, students can explore other drawings, and how they corresponded to the period of time in which they were drawn.
This could also apply the history of the constellations. There are many mythological stories that connect to the constellations. Many of the planets and their moons are named after Roman deities. Using Google Sky might be a good extension to a lesson exploring Greek or Roman mythology.
Using the different showcases you can explore with students the advances in the technology used to explore space. You can discuss the technology that these telescopes and sky surveys use to get their images for programs and websites like this. Technology in this field has been advanced greatly. You can discuss the beginnings of celestial exploration, which required you to have a telescope to explore. Now you can access images of our galaxy without leaving your computer. This could be in connection with a science or history lesson.
The Good News and the Not-so-good News
The Good News
The Not So Good News…
Teacher Tips
More about this module: Metadata | Downloads | Version History
This work is licensed by Krystal Rodney under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 2.0), and is an Open Educational Resource.
Last edited by Krystal Rodney on Jul 12, 2009 10:36 pm -0500.
