Show students the world with Google Earth and Google Tour Builder

This week I learned more about using Google Earth and Google Tour Builder in the classroom. Both tools can be marvelous ways to show students the world from their seat in your classroom.

Google Earth

Google Earth allows users to click anywhere in the world to see it and learn more about it. My husband describes it as "a more powerful version of the globe that came with a pen that you could point to places." Remember those? Our kids might never know that gem, but being able to see images of places all around the world is a much more powerful way to engage students.

My favorite part of Google Earth is the Voyager tool. Clicking on the captain's wheel will bring you to several premade tours like Lewis and Clark and even layers like weather radar.

Check out this video to learn how to use Google Earth.

Visit this blog on the 10 Best Ways to Use Google Earth in Your Classroom for more tips!

Google Tour Builder

Another great resource to show students the world is Google Tour Builder. This tool allows you to guide students to specific locations in order to teach your content. You can embed photos and videos into your tour locations and even include street view. You could use this to show significant locations in the American Revolution, or you could show the important points along the Oregon Trail.

Check out this brief tutorial to learn more about using Google Tour Builder in the classroom.

Check out my Google Tour on Erosion in the United States for my second-grade science unit.

Both Google Earth and Google Tour Builder are great tools to use in the classroom, but I think for now I prefer Google Tour Builder. I like the ability to easily integrate photos and videos and have a sequence for my lesson.