Around the World with Google Earth

Google Earth is rapidly becoming an indispensable educational tool (download for free at http://earth.google.com/). It allows students the unprecedented ability to visualize three-dimensional geographic data with the ability to zoom between global and neighborhood level perspectives. Furthermore, they are able to create projects featuring landmarks (virtual push pins) to their geographic points of interest. With the assistance of Lee Appelbaum, second grade students and teachers have created a Google Earth video featuring the global distribution of their ancestors’ places of origin. Third grade students have transformed the traditional Geographic Landforms unit into a multimedia collection of Google Earth landmarks featuring text, graphics and audio voice-overs. Another set of third graders is working on a project to create landmarks for sites of historical interest in Portola Valley. We as educators are excited by the potential for further integration of this truly 21st Century tool into the K-8 curriculum.