Google Earth (GE)
Don't let the image of a Google Earth logo scare you! Google Earth is free tool that chanced how we teach geography, geology, and even literature books! !
Google Earth is a free, downloadable application that works as a browser for all sorts of information of Earth. It uses satellite imagery to grab, spin, pan, tilt and zoom down to any place on Earth. Students can explore every corner of the globe, measure distances,
create their own virtual tours, and share their tours with others. You can also create and download layers of information and view them in geographic context. (taken from the West Ed document explaining Google Earth).
Important Links:
Education Focus:
- GE's web site for teachers (explanations, links, etc)
- GE in the classroom (West Ed resource)- pdf
- Google Lit Trips (Lit books through Google Earth tours)
- Google Earth (GE) Geography- focus on Asia - see the amazing interactive quiz built into this activity!
- Hints on using GE in geography- use the hidden tools - great information about how to use GE in the study of geography!
- GE Posters (this site has posters for all of Google's products)
- History of WW II- samples of what can be done in the study of history - videos uploaded to YouTube.com
Google Earth Tutorials
- GE's handout created in colaboration with United Streaming (pdf)
- GE's own tutorials page- links to Google's own tutorials
- Google's extensive list of GE basics
- Mark a Location in Google Earth- GE's general tutorial
- Navigating Earth- GE's own tutorial
- uTube Video tutorials
- Adding a placemark- Google's own YouTube video tutorial
- Google Lit Trip Tutorials
- What is a Google Lit Trip?
- Getting started with a Lit Trip
- Handouts (pdf files) on created placemarkers, paths, and other specific elements fo a Lit Trip. These handouts are excellent resources!
Advanced Links- cool stuff for advanced GE users
- Tools for advanced use of GE data
- Lesson ideas for GE in the classroom
- Gallery (collection) of KMZ files (download & open in GE)
- GE, UnitedStreaming Videos, etc- connect locations to videos!