Teacher Downloads
Student Assignment Sheet

Concepts Used
Measurement
Estimation

Grade level
Grades 4-8

Subject Areas
Math

NCTM Standards
Measurement
Connections
Representation
Technology

NETS*S
1c, 2b, 3c, 6b, 6d

Estimating Distance


Objectives
  • Draw standard measurements from a familiar landmark
  • Estimate and check measures between familiar landmarks
  • Work with different units of measure

Lesson Description

The ability to judge distance is learned by example.  Once students have found their home or school in Google Earth, a good activity for them would be plotting paths of standard distances. Have them use the ruler tool to find the distance between landmarks known to them, and then match the distance with a drawn path.  They may have good idea of how far a mile is, but how about a kilometer? 

The Kmz download is an example that demonstrates how distances of 1, 10, and 100 miles can be drawn from a single location.  These are matched by distances of 1, 10, and 100 kilometers.  This file is intended only as an example, as  each student’s personal creation will be more meaningful to him or herself.  Using these measures as a gauge, follow up questions can ask students to estimate distances between known locations.  Using the ruler tool they can check their estimates.

Additionally, students can learn how to use the “Path” setting of the ruler tool to measure indirect distances such as their route to school or the mall.