Around the world with Google Earth
Scientific Theme(s):
Earth Science
* Forces that Shape the Earth
* Solar System and the Universe
Grade Level(s):
3-5
6-8
Lesson Duration: Two 50-60 minute lessons
Overview
Google Earth is a free program that students can download on their home computers and use as a research tool.
In this lesson, students will learn how to use different aspects of Google Earth to explore major landmarks
around the world, including the ocean floor, the sky, the moon, and the landscape of Mars.
Objectives
1. To become familiar with the basic tools and layers in Google Earth.
2. To practice finding locations, exploring landscapes, and recording basic information about them.
Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) Addressed
1. Science as Inquiry and Process
a. [3-8] SA1.1 - The student demonstrates an understanding of the processes of science by asking
questions, predicting, observing, describing, measuring, classifying, making generalizations, inferring,
and communicating.
2. Concepts of Earth Science
a. [8] SD2.1 – The student demonstrates an understanding of the forces that shape Earth by interpreting
topographical maps to identify features (i.e. rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys, island, and tundra).
Required Background
1. Familiarity with personal computers.
2. Know how to do the following with Google Earth: navigate, search for features, use layers, use street view,
switch to alternate views (Sky, Mars, Moon), go underwater, create a placemark, and find coordinates.
Online Tutorial: http://www.google.com/earth/learn/
Vocabulary
1. Latitude
2. Longitude
Materials
1. Instructor laptop with projector
2. Instructional laptops, 1 per student
3. Google Earth, downloaded onto each laptop
4. Where in the World? worksheet
Activity Preparation and Procedure
Day 1: Introduction to Google Earth (50-60 min.)
Walk through the lesson using a laptop hooked up to a projector. Students will follow along on their computers.
1. Assist students in booting laptops and opening Google Earth (should be downloaded already).
2. Demonstrate how to move around, zoom in and out, and use the navigation controls on the right side of
the screen in Google Earth. Allow students a few minutes to become familiar with these commands.
3. Next, in the search bar on the left, type in your school name, complete with city and state. Ask students
to zoom in on the school. Explain that this is an aerial or ‘birds-eye view’ of the school. The photo
they’re looking at was taken by a satellite that sent the image to the Google Earth image base. Give them
a few minutes to look around the area and the school.
4. In the layers bar on the left, turn on street view, 3-D buildings, and ocean layers (some of these might
be automatically on). You can also turn off pictures or layers that prove distracting.
5. Now, enter street view and look at the school.
a. There are two ways to enter street view depending on the version of Google Earth. The first
is to look on the right in the navigation panel. Above the zoom in/out bar is a little yellow
person. Click and drag the yellow person over to a street in front of your school and set it down.
Be sure the yellow person is on the road, not in a yard or building.
b. If there is no yellow person in the navigation panel, then try going to a street in front of the
school and zoom in on the street. At some point, the program should go down into street view.
c. In some cases, street view is not available for your area. However, you should be able to
examine topography. Give the students a few minutes to explore.
d. To exit street view, zoom out until you are back in the default aerial view.
6. Pass out the Where in the World? worksheet. Walk through the first exercise together.
a. Enter “Stonehenge” into the search bar and hit enter (or click on the little magnifying glass). You
should now be flying over and down to the Stonehenge site in England.
b. Now, click on the Stonehenge placemark. Explain what a placemark is, including the
information window that pops up. Most placemarks include a picture and a link to a webpage.
c. Point out where students can find the city and country that Stonehenge is located in. Record this
information on the worksheet.
d. Now, point out the information bar at the bottom of the screen, which contains (from left to
right): the date the satellite image was taken, the coordinates, and the elevation of the site.
e. Show students how to track changes in the coordinates with the mouse. Introduce the terms
latitude and longitude, and ensure students understand that coordinates indicate location.
f.
Record the coordinates of Stonehenge.
g. Go into street view around Stonehenge. Stonehenge should now appear in 3-D. Circle around
it, ‘walk’ into the middle of it, move between the pillars and look around. Give students a few
minutes to explore this area.
Use the remaining time to continue with the worksheet. Each place can be found by entering the name as it
appears. Circulate and provide help as needed. Remind students to use both the street view and 3-D tools.
Day 2: Exploring landscapes with Google Earth (50-60 min.)
1. Assist students in booting laptops and opening Google Earth.
2. Skip down to the last question on the worksheet: “Hawaii”
3. Choose a spot in the ocean that is close to shore. Zoom in until you fly under the water and down to the
ocean floor. You should be able to turn around and navigate underwater. Ask students to explore
awhile then pick a place they like and record the coordinates on their worksheets.
4. Now, move back to the top of the screen, where you can switch to different views.
a. Walk through each view, beginning with Sky. This shows the constellations.
b. Next, go to Moon view, then Mars view, and show students placemarks for various space
missions where probes have landed.
5. Once all the views have been introduced and explored, give students any remaining time to look up
locations that are important or interesting to them.
Assessment
1. Ask students to find the coordinates and record the placemark of a new location announced by the instructor.
Complementary Activities and Extension Ideas
1. Show students how to create a placemark, change the placemark color and text, and add a description. Ask
students to create a placemark for each location they visit.
2. Explore local geographic features such as major lakes, rivers, mountains, and plan an excursion.
References
Google Earth program download:
http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html
Google Earth tutorial:
http://www.google.com/earth/learn/
World Traveler’s Name: ____________________
Where in the World?
Explore the following places in Google Earth. While you’re there, find out the following facts:
1. Stonehenge
What city and country is Stonehenge in: __________________________________________
Coordinates: ________________________________________________________________
2. Colosseum
What city and country is the Colosseum in: ________________________________________
Coordinates: ________________________________________________________________
3. Eiffel Tower
City and country: ____________________________________________________________
Coordinates: ________________________________________________________________
4. Leaning Tower of Pisa
City and country: ____________________________________________________________
Coordinates: ________________________________________________________________
5. Hawaii
Coordinates: ________________________________________________________________
What’s under the water? _______________________________________________________