Exploring History Using Google Earth

As teachers, we are always searching for ways to make our classrooms "come alive."  Google Earth has done this for us.  Inspired by Kelly Tenkely's recent flight adventures using Google Earth, I decided to begin looking for ways to incorporate the idea of a virtual flight into our learning adventures.  To give a little background, we are studying the Middle Ages this school year and are currently focusing on the Diaspora of the Jews after the destruction of the Temple by the Romans around 70 AD. 

It happened rather suddenly and completely unplanned today.  When it came time for history this morning, I sat down at our computer to pull up lessons and remembered about Google Earth.  I quickly mentioned it to our daughter and she was immediately on board.  She tried to convince me that geography was related to history and we should use this opportunity to explore the regions we had been discussing in history.  Who can argue with a well thought out argument like that?  So, the next thing I know, we are making discussing a flight plan and setting course!

Dispora of the Jews

• Main Focus: The plight of the Jews during the Dispora of the Middle Ages.

• Purpose: To illustrate to our children, how devasting this must have been to be uprooted from all you have ever known and scattered to foreign lands.

• Flight Plan: 

• Stage 1: Leave New Orleans, LA and travel to New York.  (Check out the Statue of Liberty while we are there and talk about the role of this famous city throughout history as it has welcomed immigrants.)
• Stage 2: Leave New York and travel to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.  While there, we will visit famous landmarks and point out things related to what we have been studying.  I have also included a few websites to discuss with our children.
• Stage 3: Leave Jerusalem and travel to London, England. Again, I have included information to discuss related to the role of England during this time.
• Stage 4: From there, we will go to Berlin, Germany and on to Paris, France.  Along the way, I have included information from the Jewish Virtual Library to share (when appropriate).
• Stage 5: We leave France and head to Madrid, Spain.  Here, I plan to discuss why this was considered by many Jews to be the Golden Age.
• Stage 6: Leave Spain and travel to Vatican City in Italy.

This lesson was such a huge success.  The wheels are turning as I see new ways to integrate Google Earth into our homeschooling.  I love the idea Kelly uses of issuing passports to students and stamping them as you visit new countries.  This is so much more than our regular mapping activities.  This truly lets you experience the world and breathe life into your lessons.  The kids were absoultely amazed!  So much fun!  I am already thinking of a lesson integrating the novel Flat Stanley.  To be continued....