For Students
Ideas For Using Google Earth In Engaging Ways
For Students
Ideas For Using Google Earth In Engaging Ways
Virtual Field Trips:
Explore historical sites: Travel back in time by comparing historical maps with current views to see how a place has changed.
Visit remote locations: Explore the Amazon rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, or the Sahara Desert without leaving the classroom.
Discover different cultures: Explore cities and villages around the world, observing architecture, landmarks, and local customs.
Geography & Science:
Track weather patterns: Observe the movement of hurricanes, cyclones, and other weather systems.
Study plate tectonics: Visualize plate boundaries, earthquakes, and volcanic activity; understand the movement of the Earth’s crust
Analyze environmental issues: Investigate deforestation, pollution, and climate change through satellite imagery.
Analyze ecosystems, biodiversity, and the impact of human activities on the environment.
Collect and analyze data related to population, climate, and other geographical factors.
Investigate the effects of natural disasters, floods, wildfires, etc. on the landscape
Explore ocean currents, coastal erosion, glacier recession, etc.
Observe changes in the Earth’s surface over time
Measure distances and calculate areas: Use the measurement tools to understand scale and spatial relationships.
Create projects and reports using Google Earth imagery, incorporating maps and graphs.
Math:
Measure distances between two locations, such as cities, landmarks, or their own home and school. Study measurement, scale, and conversion.
Determine area and perimeter of land masses such as parks, lakes, countries, and buildings, using the measuring tools.
Analyze map scales and use them to calculate real world distances
Identify geometric shapes and patterns in real world settings. Analyze triangles, rectangles, circles, and polygons in the landscape on the globe or buildings that are visible in Google Earth.
Understand latitude and longitude; locate famous landmarks or cities using coordinates
Apply mathematical concepts to solve problems related to geography such as calculating the volume of a reservoir or determining the slope of a hill or calculating how many bushels of corn a field can produce.
Research & Projects:
Conduct in-depth research: Explore locations related to research topics (e.g., historical events, environmental issues, cultural studies).
Create presentations: Use Google Earth to illustrate findings and share knowledge with classmates. Create presentations to teach their peers.
Develop creative projects: Use Google Earth as inspiration for stories, poems, artwork, and other creative expressions.
Language Arts:
Describe places: Use vivid language to describe the sights and sounds of a location explored using Google Earth.
Write travelogues: Imagine they've traveled to a specific location and write about their experiences.
Compare and contrast: Analyze the similarities and differences between different places around the world.
Art
Explore famous landmarks, museums, and art galleries around the world. Use “Street Level” views
Investigate how different cultures and environments influence art and design.
Use satellite imagery to explore abstract concepts like patterns, textures, and the relationship between humans and the environment
Analyze the color palettes of different locations (e.g., vibrant cities, lush forests, arid deserts) to assist in creating their own color choices.
Use screenshots from Google Earth as the basis for digital art projects, such as photos, collages, and digital paintings.
Incorporate elements from Google Earth imagery into mixed media projects, such as drawings, paintings, sculptures, and collages.
Explore architectural styles and design concepts from around the world.
Analyze how perspective is represented in aerial and satellite imagery.
Developing Critical Thinking Skills:
Ask questions: Explore a location and formulate questions about its geography, history, and culture.
Formulate hypotheses: Make predictions about the characteristics of a place based on its location and surrounding environment.
Analyze data: Collect and analyze data related to population, climate, and other geographical factors.
By actively exploring and interacting with Google Earth, students can develop valuable research, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while expanding their understanding of the world around them.