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Google Earth-



I attended a session at TCEA today on Google Earth. I have used Google Earth quite a bit. I used it with grades 3-5 to students to study map skills and landforms. I learned a lot about new ways to use it. The presenters, Susan Anderson and Jim Holland, did a great job of tying the tools directly to curriculum and learning. Here are a few ideas:

Search for landmarks or landforms around the world so students can see what they look like.

Click on the icons to link to images, videos, wikipedia articles, and much more to get information about the location you are visiting.

Have students create placemarks on places they visit and add information about that location. For example, if you are studying volcanoes, have students place placemarks on specific volcanoes and then add facts they have learned about its height, history, or geography.

Use the placemarks to create a scavenger hunt for students to find locations or figure out their significance.

Use the measuring tool to measure the distance between places.

Use the path tool to draw lines to distinguish important aspects of a place.

In addition, many web 2.0 tools allow you to embed content into a placemark. Here are a few:

  • scrapblog- can embed it into google earth

  • voki- kids create podcasts about landforms

  • slideroll- slideshow embedded into google earth

  • timetoast-create timelines

  • slideshare- upload a powerpoint into google earth


One thing is for sure. This is an essential tool for teaching geography and map skills. Any other ideas on how to use it with your students? I'd love to hear from you!

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