We recently completed a research project with all three fifth grade classes at my school. During this project, students got to pick a landmark to research. After picking a landmark, they used a template to begin filling out information. The template was laid out in a specific grid to match a Pic Monkey Collage we used later in this process. Once students had recorded all their information in the grid, they were then required to find an image for each cell in the grid that best represented the information in that cell. Students used Pic Monkey to create a collage of their images they had found for each cell in their grid. This picture collage was uploaded into Thinglink to begin adding "tags" to their collage. Each photo of their collage had a "tag" added to it with the corresponding information from the cell on their grid template. After all the "tags" had been added, students then copied their Thinglink URL, opened up a shared map, searched for their landmark and added their landmark to the Google Map. They were then able to add their Thinglink URL to their landmark location. To conclude, each student was recorded giving his/her speech about their landmark. This speech was uploaded to YouTube. The URL for their YouTube speech was copied by students and added on the Google Map to their landmark. The final result was a single Google Map with a landmark represented for each student's research. Each landmark had a Thinglink URL and a YouTube URL. Below are more detailed steps of the process for this project. Landmarks We used this website for students to choose their landmarks. Students started by exploring the list of 100 landmarks. They chose their top five landmarks. We then went one by one and had students select a landmark. We did this so we would not have duplicates of the same landmark. They were allowed to search the internet to answer the questions on the Landmark Research Template. They did use TripAdvisor to determine the landmark's rating as well as the average price of activities to do at the landmark. Pic Monkey I created a Symbaloo Mix for students to use when searching for images that they had rights to use in their project. However, we still had some students that didn't filter Google or Bing results based on license. When they published their ThingLink, it would not display because of using copyrighted images. It was a good lesson for students to see why we stressed using pictures that they had permission to use. 1) After pictures were found, students went to PicMonkey. They clicked on collage to build their collage. 2) After adding the images from their computers, they had to change the layout of the collage. To do this, they had to click the layout icon like the picture below. 3) After selecting the layout option, they clicked "cards," changed the layout to 6 x 8 and then chose the last option to the right like the image below. *This layout was chosen because it matched out Landmark Research template that students had used to record their information. This was set up this way to assist with easily adding "tags" during the Thinglink step. 4) After changing to the correct layout, they just had to drag and drop their images into the correct cell of the grid. Once done adding images, they clicked save at the top. 5) After clicking save, they are given the option to rename their image and specify the save location. We saved all our images to Google Drive during this project. Thinglink Prior to this project, I had purchased a license to Thinglink. It was $35, but provided some nice features for using it with 75ish 5th graders. 1) The first thing students did after logging into their account was click create. 2) Next students had to click the big blue button to be able to select their pic collage they had made using PicMonkey. 3) After their image was loaded, they were able to rename their Thinglink image and begin adding tags. 4) When adding a tag, they had the option to put in a URL or they could simply type in text that would be visible when the tag was hovered over by the mouse. We had students type in text. The text was the information they had recorded from their Landmark Research template. 5) After adding all their tags, students were able to save their Thinglink image by clicking the green save button. 6) After saving their Thinglink image, they were able to click the share button. This provided them with multiple options for sharing. We chose to have students copy the URL to add to our shared Google Map. Google Maps Prior to students adding their links to a shared Google Map, I had to set up some of the basics of the map. 1) I first had to go to maps.google.com and click in the search bar. Make sure you are signed into Google which should give you the option for "my maps." After clicking my maps, you should have the option to "create" a new map. 2) At this point you can rename your map as well as your first layer. 3) After renaming the map and layer, click the three dots on the newly renamed "layer" and choose to "open the data table. 4) After opening the data table, you need to add a couple new columns. You can click the drop down arrow and choose to insert a column before or after. 5) We added a Thinglink and YouTube column. We deleted the description column. 6) After adding the columns, you should be able to see the columns you will have being displayed in your "data table." 7) Once you have the data table all set up, you can share the map so your students can begin adding their landmark research. To do this, click the share button. 8) We set the link so that anyone who had the link could edit. The link that was provided was then shared with students. We shared it in Google Classroom so it was easy to access the map. After the map was finished, we went back in and set the sharing options to "view" only instead of editing. That made it so we could share the map with the world and not worry about someone being able to edit the map. 9) After sharing the map with students, they can click in the search bar at the top and search for their landmark. After their landmark is located, they can click on the green icon. This will allow them to click "add to map." 10) Once their landmark is added to the map, they will have the option to click a pencil on their landmark. This will allow them to edit the Thinglink and You Tube fields. Students can add in their links for both Thinglink and YouTube. Once done adding those URLs, they can click save. Their landmark is now added to the map. Changes This project was rushed a little faster than we would have liked. One of the 5th grade classes was piloting some Chromebooks so we had to finish this project before the Chromebooks went away. Looking back on this project, we would have liked to have students cite their sources and add a bibliography to either their Thinglink or their landmark on the Google Map. In addition, more time spent on finding images that students were allowed to use would have reinforced copyright laws. Lastly, after doing this project, we talked about doing some green screen movie making for their speeches. Having an image of their landmark as the background as they were doing their speech would have made their speech come to life even more. Share This:
3 Comments
2/19/2015 05:26:09 am
Andrew,
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Andrew Fenstermaker
2/19/2015 05:45:36 am
Matthew,
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Jenny Nitchals
5/1/2015 08:00:33 am
Thank you for this awesome resource. Our 5th grade teacher took a hold of this idea for her Iowa History Project and it has been great. We can't wait to showcase our maps to our community!
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Andrew FenstermakerInstructional Technology Coordinator | Innovation Coach | Google Certified Innovator | Presenter | Blogger | Adjunct @UiowaEducation | Owner @kids_f_i_r_s_t |