Virtual Exploration

The last days of school are here and families are making summer plans.  Work, play, picnics, backyard campfires, stargazing, vacations, and a myriad of other activities often fill the warm summer days.  For many gifted students summer is a time for freedom to explore personal interests.
 
In previous blog posts I have discussed resources for getting outside to explore and rejuvenate (see May and June posts).  In this post, I want to share some resources for virtual trips around the globe without ever leaving home.  While there are summer programs and camps at the local, state, national and international levels, sometimes exploration requires only a device and an Internet connection.  The websites listed below allow the viewer to explore many different places that may spur interest in deeper research and investigation.  The links below are only a few of many virtual tours available online.  Students may do their own search for particular topics, sites, or areas of interest.  As with any web explorations parents should monitor the websites for unidentified inappropriate content, and their children’s online participation.
 
Enjoy the summer and have fun, even if you stay in your own town.
 
Ten of the Best Virtual Field Trips
https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/ten-of-the-best-virtual-field-trips
 
Gettysburg Virtual Tour
http://virtual-tour.civilwar.org/gettysburg.html?s=pano69
http://www.virtualgettysburg.com
 
National Park Service Virtual Tours
Yellowstone
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm
 
Glacier
https://www.nps.gov/glac/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm
 
Zion
https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm
  
Grand Canyon
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/virtualtour.htm
  
Boston Children’s Museum
http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/museum-virtual-tour
 
The Museum of Flight
http://museumofflight.org/vr
 
Naval Aviation Museum
http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/education/virtual-tour/
 
Live Animal and Scenery Cameras around the World
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/decorah-eagles-north-nest
 
 

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