Where in the World Are You? A Mystery Skype

This activity is geared for the end of a Social Studies unit focused on standard LWT2 (2) 6: Identify states, continents, oceans, and the equator using maps, globes, and technology.

•  Identifying map elements, including title, legend, compass rose, and scale

•  Identifying the intermediate directions of northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest

•  Recognizing technological resources such as a virtual globe, satellite images, and radar

The students will design questions based off of the knowledge and skills learned in the unit and participate in a video conference to locate another class from anywhere on the globe.

The point of the game is to use skills and strategies taught through the unit to be the first to figure out where the other class is from.

Instructions:

The teacher will find a classroom to connect with from anywhere in the world and designate a day and time for the session. The Google Plus community Connected Classrooms is a great place to find a teacher/class. Mystery Skype is also a great place to find classroom matches.

Students should be assigned roles for the video conference prior to beginning the activity. These roles could be (but are not limited to):

• Greeter -1 student – They greet the class, introduce their class, and also say the farewell. They become part of the Think Tank when they are not being the greeter. 
• Questioner – 1 or 2 students – These are the students that ask the questions to the other class. They should be students that are also capable of coming up with more questions on the fly if needed.
• Filter – 2 students or more – These kids act as a filter between the runners and the questioners assessing the questions that are coming their way. They have to pay close attention to what answers have been given and what has already been asked as the Think Tank often misses an answer.  They can then use their common sense to filter the best questions to the questioners.
• Answerer – 1 student – This student answers the "yes" or "no" and should have a good understanding of geography.
• Runners – 3 students – These students are the only ones moving in the classroom. They run between the filters and the Think Tank Lead Thinker in order to relay information needed to answer and ask questions. 
• Think Tank
  • Google Mappers – 2 students – Use Google Maps to answer questions and propose questions to ask.
  • Wall map & atlas mappers – any number of students – they are using all sorts of map tools to answer and come up with more questions.
  • Lead thinker – the boss of the think tank – They run the Think Tank. This student needs to be a good thought leader who is kind and patient.
  • Notetaker – 1 or 2 students – Writes down all the answers to questions so they can be accessible for clarifications.

Students are to design questions ahead of time that they believe will get them to the location of the other class. These questions should be able to have "yes" or "no" answers and are focused on geographic and political boundary locations as well as cultural questions about daily life.

Students are to practice their roles and set the norms for expectations of these roles.

On Video Conference Day:

Make sure there is nothing in view of the camera that gives away your location, including shirts of students and items on the wall.

Once connected, the "Questioner" then interfaces with the other class as the two classes take turns asking their questions until one of the classes finds the exact location of the opponent.

It is recommended that students practice their roles before their very first video conference.