Google Maps

Google Maps provides teachers a way to eliminate the restrictions of their classroom walls and take their lessons to another level. Google Maps is a web mapping application that offers satellite pictures, 360 degree street views, road maps, distance mapping, location photos, live webcams and weather information.  There is even a feature where you can walk directly from place to place as if you are currently standing in that location. Ever wonder what it is like to walk the streets of Italy, try it in Google Maps! Want your students to see Disneyland? Google Maps! Wish you could take your class to the White House? Visit it for free on Google Maps! This free application is a virtual field trip to anywhere in the world at the click of a button and much, much more!

This fifth grader is "traveling"through his country of choice during an exploration activity. He chose the Middle East to investigate. He is shown here viewing the "street view" and is walking down the boardwalk near a lake.

Ideas for using Google Maps in your classroom

• Measure distances between places
• Practice learning directions
• Visit a location before you go on a field trip
• Compare various types of landforms
• Visit a place of interest as a virtual fieldtrip
• Navigate roads in street view to get to specific locations
• Look up the weather in other places around the world
• Compare two places
• Look up the setting of the books you are reading
• Visit famous landmarks
• Look up places where famous people lived or were born
• Travel famous explorer routes
• Build background knowledge on unfamiliar topics
• Investigate areas very different than where we live