Google Earth in the Classroom

Google Earth

Google Earth offers educators numerous opportunities to virtually transport their students around the globe!  In many sixth grade social studies classes, students research a foreign country throughout the year and then write up a traditional standard report about they have learned.  As a way to better engage and familiarize students with the countries they are researching, why not have students build off of their classroom country research to create virtual tours of their countries using Google Earth?  Students could highlight important cities, landmarks, important historical locations as well as tourist destinations.  These virtual tours would then be shared with their classmates as a way to share what they have learned and to excite others to explore their countries.

Common Core Standard Addressed:  

• 6.SL.5 [Speaking & Listening: Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas]:  5. Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.   

AASL Standard for 21^st-Century Learner Addressed:

• 3.1.4 [Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society]:  Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and access.