• BLOG
  • ALL ACCESS
    • ALL ACCESS Login
    • Teachable Log in
  • PODCASTS
    • The Shake Up Learning Show
      • Listen
      • Subscribe
    • The Google Teacher Podcast
    • Kasey as a Guest
  • RESOURCES
    • AI Resources & Tools
    • Video Library
    • FREE Downloads
    • Choice Boards
    • Google Resources
    • Google Classroom
  • BOOKS
    • Blended Learning with Google
    • Google from A To Z
    • Shake Up Learning Book
      • Dynamic Learning Workshop
      • Book Study
    • Bulk Discounts
    • Learn More
  • WORK WITH US
    • About Kasey Bell
    • ALL ACCESS for Schools
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
  • CONTACT
    • Connect on Social
    • Copyright Policy
    • Privacy Policy
↑

Shake Up Learning

Empowering Educators with Time-Saving EdTech Tips, Tools, and Strategies

  • BLOG
  • ALL ACCESS
    • ALL ACCESS Login
    • Teachable Log in
  • PODCASTS
    • The Shake Up Learning Show
      • Listen
      • Subscribe
    • The Google Teacher Podcast
    • Kasey as a Guest
  • RESOURCES
    • AI Resources & Tools
    • Video Library
    • FREE Downloads
    • Choice Boards
    • Google Resources
    • Google Classroom
  • BOOKS
    • Blended Learning with Google
    • Google from A To Z
    • Shake Up Learning Book
      • Dynamic Learning Workshop
      • Book Study
    • Bulk Discounts
    • Learn More
  • WORK WITH US
    • About Kasey Bell
    • ALL ACCESS for Schools
    • Sponsorship and Advertising
  • CONTACT
    • Connect on Social
    • Copyright Policy
    • Privacy Policy

Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore! – SULS0113

June 8, 2021 by Kasey Bell

  • Share
  • Tweet

In this episode, Kasey talks with Shake Up Learning trainer, Tammy Lind, on the hidden treasure of Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore! - SULS0113Google Earth as a classroom tool.

Tammy Lind is an Instructional Coach in Wisconsin.

A former special education teacher, Tammy is passionate and has presented at various national conferences about finding web-based technologies to make the curriculum accessible to all learners.

Tammy shares so many great ideas for using Google Earth to explore and create in every grade level and subject area.

Have you explored Google Earth?!

[ctt template=”1″ link=”RfOcc” via=”yes” ]Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore![/ctt]

Listen to this article.

 

[ctt template=”5″ link=”O1QVd” via=”yes” ]The hidden treasure of Google Earth in every classroom. [/ctt]

This episode is sponsored by Schoolytics.

Schoolytics helps you measure, monitor, and manage student engagement and assignments. It also organizes all the student engagement data from Google Classroom in one easy-to-use dashboard. And my favorite part? Schoolytics is free for teachers!

Visit: schoolytics.io to sign up!

Quick Tip of the Week (Color Code Folders in Drive)

📺  Watch this quick video to learn how!

Quick Tip Video Library

Subscribe to Shake Up Learning on YouTube

➡️   OR, watch it on TikTok!

Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore!

When Google Earth first dropped people wanted to check out the street view of their own homes. Then the rabbit trail of looking at your best friend’s house and the Taj Mahal and the trail could go on for hours. However, Google Earth has some very real power in the classroom which Tammy Lind helps to uncover in this episode. 


Every Grade, Every Subject

Teachers might think Google Earth is best in a History or Science classroom, but the reality is that this tool can be used across several disciplines and grade levels. One of the best-kept secrets in Google Earth is the Voyager story feature. To find it, click on the ship’s wheel in the left menu. This will open another menu that includes: Nature, Games, Layers, Street View, Culture, Travel, and Education. 

Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore! - SULS0113

Teachers may be tempted to go directly to the Education section, which has fantastic curriculum-specific images and information, however, the other choices can be just as valuable. For example, in the Nature topic, a classroom can access several live cams from the African safari. Tammy shared this with a class of first-graders who were in utter excitement at the sights and sounds of the animals who passed by the cameras. 

Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore! - SULS0113

Related: Flatten the Walls of Your Classroom with the New Google Earth

Under the Game’s topic, you will find several quizzes. These aren’t your average multiple-choice question quizzes. The quiz topics span a multitude of topics and provide quality information on the topic along with an image that zooms into that part of the world. Kids could learn something from taking a test rather than sharing what they already knew. 

Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore! - SULS0113

The Layers tab shows images in a timelapse. Kids can see exactly how the glaciers are melting or the destruction caused by a natural disaster. The value in making comparisons and contrasts based on time leads to rich discussions and great critical thinking. 

When students read about foreign places, whether that’s the Boston Harbor or the beach at Normandy, Google Earth street view can take them there for a true visual. When it’s not possible to physically be there Google Earth makes it possible to see. 


Choosing the Culture topic is a fantastic place to find quality information and images on several interesting cultural topics. The choices given under this tab would be a great place for students to explore when needing inspiration for a research topic. It also makes a great jumping-off point for gathering valuable information. 

https://i.gyazo.com/e480eee558fef9d3f006f66be7c8ffa1.gif

The Travel topic is another great place to spark inspiration. Google has shared many popular sites, but also several nooks and crannies some may be excited to discover. Of course, the scenery is not the only reason to visit a location, some stories focus on amazing artwork around the world, epic summer festivals, super surf spots, and so many more. 

Related: 10 Amazing Google Geo Tools for Your Classroom

Of course, the Education topic will provide every teacher with a curriculum-related option. From triangular structures and the geometry of castles to reading the ABCs from space or fairy tales from around the world. Learning through text and images increases the staying power of that knowledge. 


Google Earth Projects

Google Earth is a powerful tool to learn from, but it also has built-in features for students to create their own projects and show off their new knowledge. Using the Projects feature students can create or view other saved projects. 

Google Earth in Every Grade: Create and Explore! - SULS0113

Tammy shares how she created a scuba diving project using her underwater images. Students can collaborate on these projects or work individually. They can choose to use personal photos, a great project for a photography class, or pull places directly from Google Earth. Everything students create in a project is saved directly into their Google Drive making it simple to share for collaboration purposes. 

Tammy explains how she walks students through the process of finding, evaluating, creating, and communicating when strategically using Google Earth as a teaching tool. The built-in features make this tool perfect for hitting all of the four C’s in the Dynamic Learning framework. 

How to Get Started

When you’re looking at the globe there is a lot to see. It can be incredibly overwhelming and provides a lot of clickbait. Tammy suggests that the first time you introduce this tool to students just let them play. Everyone likes to search for their own home. There is also a feature called I’m Feeling Lucky. It’s the image of the 5 on a dice. This will choose a place to explore at random. 

Another great place to direct students to for playtime is the Voyager story feature. Sparks of creativity and inspiration are bound to start swirling around the classroom. 

Tammy LindAbout Tammy Lind

Tammy Lind is an Instructional Coach in Wisconsin. A former special education teacher, Tammy is passionate and has presented at various national conferences about finding web-based technologies to make the curriculum accessible to all learners.

Current Certifications: Google Certified Educator Level 1, Google Certified Educator Level 2, Google Certified Trainer, Google Certified Innovator, Seesaw Ambassador, and Intel Master Teacher

Tammy’s most popular presentations topics: Accessibility, Google tools, and Google Geo resources

© Shake Up Learning 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kasey Bell and Shake Up Learning with appropriate and specific direction to the original content on ShakeUpLearning.com. See: Copyright Policy.

  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Blended Learning, Collaboration, Communication, distance learning, Dynamic Learning, episodes, Free Resources for teachers, Google, Google Earth, home learning, Inspiring Interviews, Instructional Technology, Remote Learning, Shake Up Learning Show Podcast, The 4 C's

SUMMER LEARNING SERIES
11 Bible Verses for Struggling Teachers
The best Learning books of all time

Brilliantly

SAFE!

shakeuplearning.com

Content & Links

Verified by Sur.ly

2022
  • Contact Shake Up Learning
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright ©2025, Shake Up Learning. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT