AMONG THE HIDDEN GOOGLE MAP ACTIVITY

1. Teacher logs into Google Maps, goes to “My Maps;” clicks on “Create New Map;”sets up the first Google Map of the United States for the class; and saves it using teacher name and class period. Maps should be set as “Public” on the edit screen. 2. Teacher logs ALL computers being used into teacher’s Google Account prior to students’ arrival. 3. Teacher demonstrates to students how to use Google Maps to locate a city/town on the map and creates a placemark by locating Washington, D.C. (location of upcoming rally). 4. Students go to Google Maps and type in the name of their city and state to find out exactly where it is located on the map. Zoom out enough that you can see the entire state. They should identify some landmarks/terrain/towns on the map that will help them locate their town on the master map. 5. Students go to Maps>My Maps>Open map for their class period. 6. Click on Edit. 7. Make sure to use “Map” view. 8. It may take a few seconds for the entire map to load. 9. Start with “zoom” out far enough to see the entire United States. 10. Use the “hand” tool to move the map to the state that the Shadow Child lives in. 11. Center the state in the middle of the screen. 12. Use the roller on the mouse to SLOWLY zoom in on the state a couple of clicks at a time until the city/town for the Shadow Child is located. 13. Click on the blue “placemark” tool at the top. (Just click. Don’t click and drag.) 14. Move the placemark to the location on the map where you want it to go and then click again. 15. In the “Title box” type the name of your Shadow Child. 16. In the “Description box” type in the following: Name of your town and state. Type of house you live in. Number of other Shadow Child Siblings you have. Economic status of your family (poor, middle class, rich, etc.) Other Information like shopping passes, etc. 17. Click OK. 18. Click “Save” in the menu box on the left. 19. Click on “Satellite” tab to see a satellite view of your town. You may need to zoom in and out some.

To see other students’ additions to the map: 1. Click on the “Refresh” button on the very top menu bar. 2. Reopen “My Maps” 3. Reopen file for your class. 4. You will have to repeat this often as new people add their places. 5. Look for people who live fairly close to you. CHALLENGE

Use the “draw a line” tool next to the placemark tool to find out how many miles it is from your home town/city to Washington, D.C. Use the drop down menu to select “draw a line along roads.” Click just below the base of your placemark and create the start box. Release your click and drag your mouse to the placemark for Washington, D.C. Write down the number of miles on the sheet provided by the teacher. You MUST know this information for one of your blogging activities.

MORE COOL THINGS TO DO

If time permits, go to class map. Move the cursor over the drop down menu underneath the “Satellite” icon where it says “traffic.” Select WebCams. They will load all over the map. Go to the city/town for your Shadow Child and look at the WebCams provided. Also try switching to the Satellite view and zoom in on your town. You will have to keep moving your placemark to the middle of the screen.