It is close to the end of summer in the northern hemisphere. Many kids are heading back to school after a summer break. For those of you who are educators and have thought, or heard, that Google Earth would make a good tool for geography lessons – let me suggest you look closer. Google Earth (GE) is not only a great tool for geography – it has the ability to entice kids to learn about information tied to location in a huge variety of important educational subjects. When you first load GE you have a wealth of information available at your fingertips. Thousands of aerial and satellite photos, dozens of layers of information: city names, country borders, airport locations, photos, road maps, National Geographic content, volcanoes, and more. Since Google Earth is an intuitive and fun tool, I believe you could use it as a visualization and educational tool for almost any subject. Once students prepare their own content, GE can be used to present their work – or even share their work with the world.
Below you will find a sample of possible useful content for Google Earth in a variety of subjects such as geography, literature, science, history, and more. Basically, any information which can be tied to a location on Earth can be illustrated, and made interesting, using GE. Juicy Geography is a web site, by Noel Jenkins in the UK, designed to help teachers learn more about tools like GE for the classroom and suggests possible lessons. Also, check out a summary of educational uses for Google Maps by GoogleMapsMania. And, Google has their own site on educational uses for Google Earth. Continue reading the rest of this post for more information.
Google Earth is a powerful visual tool for visualizing and presenting information tied to location. And now, with Google Earth 4.2 there are even more reasons to use GE in education (GE 4.2 adds the new Sky mode which is wonderful for astronomy lessons, the flight simulator mode for teaching about aviation, and a wealth of new features in KML 2.2 which will greatly enhance educational presentations with GE). GE can also be used as a tool for students to study or even prepare their own presentations. If I were an educator I would use GE for many topics. You can use the “Search” or “Categories” on Google Earth Blog to find more information. Or, you can go to the Google Earth Community to look for materials as well. Here are just a sample of some of the material available organized by subject:
Literature
- Places quoted in Shakespeare
- Travels of Odysseus
- Around the World in 80 Days
- Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Science
- Astronomy: GE 4.2 Sky Mode, Solar System in Google Earth, Solar Eclipses,
- Earth Science: Ice Flows, global temperatures
- Geology: volcanoes, earthquakes
- Biology: Avian Flu, Chimpanzees, Ants
- Environment: Glacier melt, International Polar Year, satellite data
- Weather: Weather tools, lightning data from NASA, more weather stories
History
- Lewis and Clark Expidition
- Shackleton Expedition
- Six Wives of Henry VIII
- 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Geography
Try turning on the Geographic Web layer. How about basic geography information about countries of the world? Turn on the Borders layer. Or, try the CIA World Factbook for GE 
(more details).
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
It amazes me how useful Google Earth is, and can be.
If I have my own website, how can I provide a link to a Google Tour on it?
I zoomed and zoomed. Wow! This was very interesting. I zoomed to different parts of the world and saw countless opportunities to include math and social studies. This website gave me a chance to explore different parts of the world that I have never been (most of my students also) to. Think how this will benefit my students. The kids will love this site and at the same time they will be able to polish their skills in other subjects too.
Google Earth is amazing. It is the closest thing to actually being there.
Google Earth has always intrigued me. I could spend hours just looking up random stuff and not get bored!
We can all agree Google Earth is fantastic! It’s so amazing.. Also in education! 😉
I also like the new Google Streetview.
A neat tool that I have my social science students examine for possible use in their classrooms.
Google Earth has so many uses. It helps us visualize the world outside our room. The street view is very helpful.
Google Earth is fantastic and helping us to realize just how small we are. Thanks for the post and for pointing out even more uses of the wonderful program. Ann
Don’t forget creative writing. I used Google Earth street view to explore the streets of NYC before I had been there, so I could write about it as if I had. It’s not exactly the same, but it certainly helps the imagination. We plan educational tours for student groups, and Google Earth would be a great way to learn about their destination before they go. This is a great post and a great tool for educators.
Science teachers definitely must be having a field day with all the things they can do on Google Earth. In generally, teachers have many more tools at their disposal to give their students a better education.
Today technology has grown and the usage of technology also increased. Using google earth is one among the best usage of technology. Other thing of using technology is online education or remote education.
Google earth is really a awsome tool. Science teachers today have so many great tools at their disposal.
I wish I was a student again and back in school. I can’t imagine how much easier it would be to learn today with all of the additional tools and technology such as Google Maps. I guess that may be conterbalanced by all the distractions such as Facebook 🙂
This website gave me a chance to explore different parts of the world that I have never been. Thank you so much 🙂
Google Earth is a gorgeous…………..
Google Earth is a gorgeous…………..
Google Earth is a gorgeous…………..
Sometimes i still think of the good old fashion days, when a great tool like Google Earth was still considered to be ‘magic’. Still feels like that though, but to this new generation it’s just normal. Nowadays we cant go without these new technical tools!
Google Earth Is The Best
Very knowledgeable reading. This is such a great resource that you are providing.
Google all tools good. Google earth is the best.
Well, I am so excited that I have found this your post because I have been searching for some information about it almost three hours.
Google earth is awesome and main thing is all world is in circle of common people and it giving a lot of benefits.Thanks for sharing Google earth application in education field also.
I am planning to use GE in primary classes for English and Cono (geography and history).
I love Google Earth, the best part is that my kids loves it too, so it’s easier to teach them about countrys, flags, population and stuff..
Thanks for the info!
Hi Thare! i need to say that i mainly use street view to explore other city’s outside my country, it helps me get in the vacation mood so that i can decide better where to go on holiday haha! Thanks for your good info! (sorry for my bad English im European) Good day everybody greetings
I use Google Earth A Lot. I also like Google Universe It is a very good tool
Some teachers might use Google street view as well, sometimes kids need to see what is out there..
Google have given new dimensions to life and making life easier and convenient which great service to humanity.Google Earth is one of its service and guide to coming generation about it is good step.
I think this is a great post. One thing that I find the most helpful is number five. Sometimes when I write, I just let the flow of the words and information come out so much that I loose the purpose. It’s only after editing when I realize what I’ve done.
Google Earth rocks !!! It has made life easy.
Thanks for this amazing blog.
The article is written in a very good manner.It help me in my college project.Thanks for sharing it.
Happy to see your blog as it is just what I’ve looking for and excited to read all the posts. I am looking forward to another great article from you.
When I started homeschooling my child Google Earth helped me a lot. It’s a wonderful tool.
Awesome read. I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. He actually bought me lunch because I found it for him! So let me rephrase: thank you for lunch!
it as a visualization and educational tool for almost any subject. Once students prepare their own content, GE can be used to present their work – or even share their work with the world.
Sometimes i still think of the good old fashion days, when a great tool like Google Earth was still considered to be ‘magic
I still remember the first time I used Google Earth, it was definitely a quantum leap for me…
prepare their own content, GE can be used to present their work – or even share their work with the world.
Anyhow, My business is blown away from your concept here, I am going to definitely register for your Feed!
I still remember the first time I used Google Earth i go any where in Google Earth.
Basically, any information which can be tied to a location on Earth can be illustrated
Google Earth is amazing. It is the closest thing to actually being there.
Thank you very much for sharing, in my opinion G.E. is one of the best applications google has
GE can also be used as a tool for students to study or even prepare their own presentations.
e as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought you have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
I think that your viewpoint is deep, it’s just well thought out and truly incredible to see someone who knows how to put these thoughts so well. Good job!
This is interesting post. I never thought about this before. But, looking back at different situations, this might be right. Keep it up friend!
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We have just updated our tool to make it compatible with Google’s PR changes. Please update before running full reports, thank you!
I am hoping the its same high-grade blog post from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing skills have inspired me to get my own blog going now. Actually blogging is spreading wings and growing quickly.
I still remember the first time I used Google Earth
Google earth is awesome and main thing is all world is in circle of common people and it giving a lot of benefits.Thanks for sharing Google earth application in education field also.
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Google Earth Rules. Great site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Google all post are good. It is very helpful post.Thanks.
This is my first time I visit here. I found so much entertainment stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the good work.
as all of us already know that Google Earth is equipped with a visually distinct, extensive database of satellite imagery and 3D models.so we can fully use this great tool,and put google earth to good use.really great resource of google earth in this article. already bookmarked for future reference.
Interesting post and thanks for sharing. Some things in here I have not thought about before. Thanks for making such a cool post.
We can learn many things from google.Now Google is the best teacher in the world.There is no bound in google learning.