Let’s travel with Google Earth!

Google Earth is 20 years old this June! I remember when I first discovered it and could literally – and virtually travel the world. Remember checking your whereabouts and then zooming out, and checking what does Hollywood look like from space? Maybe you even used Google Earth in your classroom – but tell me now, have you checked it recently? If not, then give it a go, because Earth has changed over those two decades and now it offers not only better views, but also nice educational options for all age groups. As always, I want to share my favourite features.

Feeling lucky, adult punk?

Who has never wasted time typing weird phrases in the Google bar and clicking I’m Feeling Lucky? Google Earth offers a similar option – you click a dice and you’re taken to a random place in the world. The only difference between the browser and its Earth counterpart is that Earth will show you no embarrassing results.

In just five minutes you can visit many interesting landmarks, as you will be shown their location, photos and a short note redirecting you to Wikipedia:

Using this feature is a great idea for a nice warm-up. You can take your students to various places and revise vocabulary or grammar you need – all you need to do is make it somewhat relevant. And at the same time you make your students imagine they travel someplace else – something we all need in these stay-home times.

Teen Voyager

If you teach teenagers, you will love the Voyager option (represented by the icon of a ship’s wheel). There you will find ready-made lesson ideas and activities you can use with your students. Indie movies filming locations? Sure thing, pick this tour! Quiz on rock’n’roll icons? Here you are! Reading the ABCs from Space? No problem! You can also join Dr. Jane Goodall in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park and meet some of the chimpanzees she has observed over the years.

You can build whole classes around these materials, but you can also use them as energizers. What is more, you can ask your students to create their projects around these ideas. More advanced students can even use the materials to prepare real English lessons and teach them in your classroom – that will bring a lot of fun!

Kids, where on Google Earth is Carmen Sandiego?

Maybe you’re familiar with the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego series that tells the story of the genius thief Carmen Sandiego dressed in a characteristic red coat and hat. If not, you could give it a go, but it’s not necessary to introduce her in your classroom. In the game called Where on Google Earth is Carmen Sandiego we chase Carmen by searching for clues, answering questions and travelling around the world.

This is a great idea for the classes with the youngest students as it perfectly combines learning by having fun. If you teach younger students, you might help them with understanding more complex phrases, but I’m sure your students will love it!

As you can see, even when we can’t travel as much as we want to, we can still take our students on an enjoyable trip.

Have fun!