Activity Introduction

Activity details: By using Google Earth your students will explore the green areas in their neighbourhood or area. Students will determine whether the area that they live in has enough green space and will design a new town that is greener.

Learning goals for this activity include:

1. Building skills in using an aerial map to review and estimate the amount of green space in the local area.

2. Begin to form opinions about land use.  

3. Identify why some areas are more likely to be dedicated to green space

4. To distinguish between different kinds of green space.

Module: Biodiversity

Year level: 9 and 10

Indoor or outdoor activity: Indoor

Duration of activity: 60 mins

Learning areas addressed: Geography, ICT, Science, English, History, Mathematics.

Teacher input: Assist students with finding maps and estimating space.

Resources needed: Access to Google Earth, printer.

There’s an app for that: Google maps

Homework and extension opportunities: None.

Keywords: biodiversity, green space, maps, ecosystems.

Australian Curriculum Link:

Year 9 Science:

  • Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS164)

Year 10 Science:

  • Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS198) 

Syllabus Outcomes: SC5-4WS.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Preparation

Go to google.com.au and click on the maps tab on the top menu bar or download Google Earth for free at https://www.google.com/earth/. Does your school have access to Landsat websites or CDs?

Student challenge

Part 1: What is Green Space?

Help your students learn what the term 'green space' means by conducting a quick Think, Pair, Share (explained below).

Students will have ten seconds to silently think of their own definition of green space. After ten seconds, each student should pair up with another student and discuss possible definitions. Students should explore what the concept might mean and decide on the best answer. Select a few pairs of students to share their answer with the class. Help them to realise that green space is undeveloped land that is near to residential or industrial land. It should be maintained for purposes of conservation and recreational enjoyment.

Part 2: Google Maps

Use Google Earth or another online aerial land photography website or CD

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Student Worksheet

Instructions:
Your job is to think about the most effective way to estimate and compare areas of 'green space'!

Part 1: What is Green Space?

Firstly, what is green space? Let's do a Think, Pair, Share (see explanation below).

You have ten seconds to silently think of your own definition of green space. After ten seconds pair up with another student and discuss both of your definitions and decide on the best answer. You will then share your answer with the class.

Part 2: Google Maps

Questions: Use Google maps to find an arial map of a local area. Answer the following questions:

1. Define the school's neighbourhood.
 

2. What is the main land use in the neighbourhood? What percentage or fraction does it take up?
 

3. What percentage or fraction of land is green space?

4. Is there a pattern to where green space occurs?
 

5. Are there different types of green space? What are they?
 

6. What percentage of homes have blocks covered in trees?
 

7. How does the school com

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