Satellite imagery and 3D model of the cruise ship Costa Concordia

The Google Earth Blog (unofficial) featured today Satellite imagery and 3D model of the cruise ship Costa Concordia

Frank Taylor took DigitalGlobe's satellite shot of the Costa Condoria cruise liner that crashed in Italy last week, created an overlay in Google Earth and offers the download for your own Google Earth application.  He, also, offers a .kmz file (Google Earth file) of one of Paul van Dinther's 3-D models of the ship that can be viewed in your Google Earth application

Program Flyer: A View from the Top: Looking at Earth from Space - Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration

Program Flyer: A View from the Top: Looking at Earth from Space - Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
is a free video conference from NASA. Great for middle school or any level discussing how NASA's International Space Station uses pictures to gather data on climate change, weather events, demographics and more.

Here is a snipet of their description:

Many of us have seen photos of the Earth taken from the Space Shuttle and have marveled at their beautiful vistas. Such imagery will continue to be collected as the International Space Station becomes fully operational, providing a permanent platform for remote sensing. At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Earth scientists study images of Earth from geographic and scientific points of view, and their investigations reveal telling facts about our planet and its processes. NASA also collects data relating to climate change, weather events, pollution, and demographics using Earth Observation Satellites. Join NASA's Digital Learning Network as we work together to develop interpretive skills and learn how to look at space-based photography the same way Earth observation scientists do at NASA.

Google Elections

Google Elections is a great way to keep you and your students up to date when following the Iowa Caucuses.

Google Elections is a huge resource of news and information.

Not only does it provide up-to-date results through an interactive map,

but you can follow Google search trends (which candidates are being searched for),

students can see who the running candidates are; view news articles and video on current issues like economy, healthcare, and national security.

On the Ground provides video news coverage throughout the caucuses from various places and sources in the country.

PBS Newshour provides a Google Calendar of the candidates' itinerary and whereabouts that you can add to your own Google Calendar.

For more information go to Google Elections. 

Also, for those who utilize Twitter, add @mentionmachine to your list to follow.  @mentionmachine monitors Twitter for political candidates mentions and and trends.

SMART Notebook Gallery Feature # 2

The Gallery Essentials collection offers materials in Geography.

 Flags for 234 different countries.  Use these to build an activity or lesson allowing the students to move the flags to the appropriate country or description of a country in Notebook.

4 types of landscapes and animals associated with those landscapes.  At the elementary level, students can learn about different types of landscapes and locate animals that live in those habitats

Over 300 maps of counties, continents, and states; as well as images of states and countries that can easily be used for student placement.  Set up a map and have your students drag the states or countries to their appropriate spots

Gallery Essentials Geography also contains common map icons and Capital stars

 For more information on the Notebook Galleries and how to access them visit this post

New From Google. Merry Christmas!

SMART Notebook Gallery Feature #1

As some of you may already be aware, the Notebook from SMART offers an extensive collection of images and interactive gadgets that you can add to any activity or presentation in your Notebook.  They are very helpful when creating an activity that has a little more involvement and meaning for your students. You can access these galleries right in your Notebook file.

Locate the four tabs on the side-menu of your Notebook.  Some side-menus are on the left, some maybe on the right.

The Gallery Tab wears the "picture frame" icon on the tab.  In this collection you will find a hefty resource of interactive imagery that you can freely drag into your work for use.

Today, I am featuring a couple of useful elements of these galleries.  In the Gallery Essentials folder there are some useful organizational tools for planning with the students.  Locate the Administration and Evaluation folder (as indicated below).  In this folder, locate the Planning folder.  Here are some Daily and Weekly Agendas that can be used as planners for events, homework, deadlines, or general agendas.  You will also find calendars for each month, as well as an blank monthly calendar.  There are some flow and comparison charts, as well as a Todo list.

Also, check out the clocks and timers in the Enhanced Resources folder.

National Geographic Education (Beta)

New to National Geographic, is National Geographic Education.  It is only in its testing grounds, however does provide some rather useful resources from video to map making.

I love the map makers.  You can select from a wide variety of maps.  The map makers have a drawing/marker collections that allows you to draw and annotate on top of the map for better featuring and direction for you students and them print them off.  You can also add your own labels.  Not only can you print the maps, but you receive the specific web link to your personalized annotated map that students can link to from your Moodle course.

There is also a small-scale GIS interactive map, allowing a small amount of layer in which students can add.  Great for students 3rd grade to 6th grade.

As we all know the National Geographic is well known for its quality resources and products.  Check it out.  Click on the NG logo below.