Overview

In this lesson, students meet Amelia the Pigeon and are introduced to the idea of aerial photography.

A view from the top

Lesson plan information

Teacher guide

Objectives

• Students will be introduced to the idea of aerial photography through the story of Amelia the Pigeon.
• Students will view an actual aerial photograph of their school or home.
• Students will write a story describing what Amelia the Pigeon would see if she flew over their school or house.

Prerequisite skills

• Basic skills using Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Basic experience with Microsoft Office Word

How to begin

1. Save the document Student directions to your classroom computers. Adjust the directions as needed for your lesson. When presenting your lesson to the students, have them use the student directions sheet as a jump point into the activity.
2. Check the TerraServerUSA Web site to see if an aerial photograph is available for your school or local area. If there is not, you can choose a famous location that your students would be familiar with for this lesson from the Web site Find aerial photographs of famous locations. Direct students to this location for Step 5 of the Student activity.
3. Discuss aerial views with students. Ask them: If you could go up high into the sky, what do you imagine your neighborhood would look like? Could you see the school? Could you see your house?

Resources and web links

• Student directions
• TerraServerUSA
• Find aerial photographs of famous locations

Student activity

Description

In this activity you will see your world from a new point of view—a birds-eye view from up above in the sky.

• Software: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Word
• What to do
  Read about Amelia the Pigeon, and see your world as she sees it—from the sky

1. Open Internet Explorer and go to the Amelia the Pigeon Web site.
2. Read the first chapter of the Amelia the Pigeon story: "How Amelia Got Her Camera."
3. If Amelia could fly above us, what do you imagine she would see? What does the top of the school look like? What does the top of your house look like?
4. There are cameras in the sky that take pictures like Amelia does. You can see the pictures online. Visit the TerraServerUSA Web site.
5. Type your home address or the school's address, and then click the Go button. Is the picture you receive what you imagined your home or school would look like from the air?
6. Think back to Amelia and her camera. What do you imagine Amelia would see if she flew over your house or school?
7. Write a story describing what Amelia would see if she flew over your house or school.

Ways to extend the student activity

Students can draw pictures of what Amelia the Pigeon would see if she flew over their school or home.

Assessment

Students can be assessed on the story they write describing what Amelia would see if she flew over their house or school. Being able to see the picture from the, TerraServer Web site should help inspire some creative writing.

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