Exploring Google Earth as a remote learning resource

Whether you are stuck at home or simply looking for a new escape, Google Earth has the tools for your next adventure… even if it happens to start from the couch. You can also provide your students with guided explorations and fun quizzes to test their knowledge.

Ready for a “voyage”?

To get started, simply head to earth.google.com. “Feeling Lucky?” Simply click the dice icon on the left side of your screen to randomly visit locations you may never have heard of or seen, such as Mount Palandöken, Saale, or the Kong Family Mansion. Zoom in or drag and drop the little yellow person icon (at the bottom right of the screen) to walk the streets of your chosen destination.

For more guided expeditions, you’ll want to point students to “Voyager.” This section of Google Earth is indicated by a small icon of a ship’s wheel. Content has been curated into the following categories:

 
There are modules for all disciplines, including math. For example, “Math and Architecture: Circular Structures” not only allows students to visually explore new areas, but also to read, watch, and listen to bite-sized lessons on the topic.

While most of the listed categories may seem intuitive, “Layers” refer to topics surrounding natural features such as global glacier coverage, watersheds, and even seafloor depth. The “Street View” option, on the other hand, immerses you in the area as if you were there in person. Visit the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in Chile or walk the Charles Bridge in the Czech Republic.

Adventures with Carmen Sandiego

Remember Carmen Sandiego? Now students can even chase her around the world in a few different interactive storylines such as, “The Crown Jewels Caper,” “The Tutankhamun’s Mask Caper,” or “The Keys to the Kremlin Caper.” Once the game is selected, click “Begin the Chase” to get started. Graphics are integrated with Google Earth’s platform to allow students to interview witnesses in each city to collect clues. Using the information gathered via the magnifying glass button, students progress by “flying” to the next city using the airplane icon. The correct path is determined by making sense of the provided clues. For instance, if a tourist mentions that a suspect was asking about Mount Fuji… you’ll know that the next city should be Tokyo.

From “Ocean Safaris” to “Fairy Tales from Around the World” to “Lewis and Clark’s Expedition,” there is no shortage of topics to enrich your remote lessons!

More resources and support

If you need help navigating Google Earth, visit their support articles here. You can also check out the Teq Talk blog for more great ideas, tips, and tricks for using technology in the classroom — even remotely.