Using Google Maps in the Classroom

Students can use Google Maps during Physics class. Dale Basler use Google Maps to map out different bus routes in his class neighborhood. He asked students to map out the route with a line (this gave them the route’s distance) find the average time needed for the bus to make a complete loop calculate the average speed of the bus and display the results on the map. Students with extra time could earn more points if they placed a pin at each stop and entered the arrival times in each stop’s description. They could also calculate the average speed from stop-to-stop. (Bus routes and Google Maps help teach physics). This lesson is done in an engaging way as well as aligned to NYS Math Standards S3.4 Adjust their explanations and understandings of objects and events based on their findings and new ideas. Jeffrey Branzburg shared that the Planimeter, a feature of the Google Maps connects any three points you clicked on a map into a triangle and computes the area, not only that, as you click on additional points, the area of the triangle adjusts too as the triangle expands into a many-sided polygon (Use Google Maps Mashups in K-12 Education). This lesson is aligned to the NYS Grade 4 Math Standards 4.R.4 which is: Use standard and nonstandard representations with accuracy and detail.

When seventh grade students are studying distance (Mathematics Scope and Sequence  p. 10 -7.M.1* Calculate distance using a map), they can use Google Maps  to calculate the distance from their house to the different places in their community. To take this further, they can use GMap to create a map of their favorite places in the community, their last vacation or their dream vacation. They can add comments and pictures to make the tour interesting. Since they had just studied area in the previous quarter they can also find the area of their yard, the school yard, and other places in the community like their favorite mall’s parking lot using Planimeter, a feature of the Google Maps  or they can go to http://maps.google.com/maps?showlabs=1&ftr=misc.distance to enable the measurement tool on their Google map. 

Sources:

Basler, D. (2007, October 23). Bus routes and Google Maps help teach physics. Retrieved from Dale Basler: http://www.dalebasler.com/2007/10/bus-routes-and-google-maps-help-teach-physics/

Branzburg, J. (2006, May 15). Use Google Maps Mashups in K-12 Education. Retrieved from Tech&Learning: http://www.techlearning.com/article/use-google-maps-mashups-in-k-12-education/43534