# data[].attributes.body
Students explore places & share what they notice.

# data[].attributes.body
LOTS of ready-to-go field trips

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What kinds of virtual field trips are available online? What trips can I explore with my students? How can I integrate virtual field trips into my classroom?

# data[].attributes.body
FABULOUS Interactive Hyperdoc

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Use Google's My Maps in the Classroom 

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Use Google's My Maps in the Classroom 

# data[].attributes.body
Teacher or student-created maps.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This morning at the NCTIES 2016 conference I facilitated a short workshop on using Google Maps and Google Earth in the classroom. Both tools are so robust that it is hard to cover everything you can or could do with them in just 90 minutes. To support the workshop I have a bunch of additional resources available on this Practical Ed Tech page.

One of things that I introduced in the workshop was the idea of having students collaborate and create multiple layers on a map. Directions for doing that included in the slides embedded below.

Here are some good uses of creating maps with multiple layers.

Multiple layers could be used for showing data differences on a year over year or month over month basis.

You could display the same data with different base layers for comparison.

Students working collaboratively on a map can be responsible for editing their own layers on the same map.

If you're using Google My Maps to have students create literature trips, they can create a different layer for each chapter of a book.

Students mapping the history of an event like the U.S. Civil War could create a different layer for each year of the war.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Use Google's My Maps in Your Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This morning at the NCTIES 2016 conference I facilitated a short workshop on using Google Maps and Google Earth in the classroom. Both tools are so robust that it is hard to cover everything you can or could do with them in just 90 minutes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Google Street View - Explore natural wonders and world landmarks

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore world landmarks, discover natural wonders, and step inside locations such as museums, arenas, parks and transport hubs.

# data[].attributes.headline
AMAZING Alice Keeler My Maps Lessons for ALL content areas (yes, math!)

# data[].attributes.subject
AMAZING Alice Keeler My Maps Lessons for ALL content areas (yes, math!)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Google My Maps allows students to create using customized maps where they create the content. Students can they locate places around the globe and see them at street view. Students can drop markers onto the map and embed text, photos or YouTube videos into the markers. Create a route. Measure size and distance.

Contribute to My Maps Lessons

This collaborative spreadsheet was crowdsourced and lists some My Map lesson plan ideas. Add your own ideas for using MyMaps.

Sample Map

Review this sample map that Donnie Piercy helped contribute to.

Install the Android App
Google Play
Ditch That Textbook

Matt Miller, author of "Ditch That Textbook" has a blog post on " 20 ways Google MyMaps can enhance lessons in any class."

Free Technology for Teachers

Richard Byrne has a post on " How to Use Google's My Maps in Your Classroom."

Some Tweets

My lessons are going to undergo a massive change now that I know about My Maps & Treks. Thanks @EdTechSpec #gafesummit

- Stacie Ryan, Ed.D. (@SRyan3rdgrade) September 19, 2015

I LOVE My Maps! Perfect way to do some great cross-curricular lessons, activities, and projects! @StantonShelly @wysummit #wyoedchat

- Donnie Piercey (@mrpiercEy) May 11, 2015

Use My Maps to create lessons http://t.co/epwqNFMfzB RC

- GC IT Services (@2265) September 17, 2014

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Google My Maps: Lesson Ideas - Teacher Tech

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Google My Maps allows students to create using customized maps where they create the content. Students can they locate places around the globe and see them at street view. Students can drop markers onto the map and embed text, photos or YouTube videos into the markers. Create a route.

# data[].attributes.body
Fabulous lessons for all content areas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Map Skills for Elementary Students - National Geographic Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This collection can help you teach an assortment of map skills through activities that address the spatial thinking abilities of young children and developmental appropriateness.

# data[].attributes.headline
EXAMPLES of Google Walks w/ Google Earth

# data[].attributes.subject
EXAMPLES of Google Walks w/ Google Earth

# data[].attributes.body
Sci/SS/Math of what can be done w/ "walks".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Google Earth Walks is a project developed as part of the Google Certified Teachers program. Google Earth Walks is not otherwise affiliated with or sponsored by Google Inc.The resources made available via the Google Earth Walks project website are provided free to the end user and are subject to some restrictions including but not limited to a restriction against distributing and/or redistributing Google Earth Walks files in any way other than via direct downloads from the Google Earth Walks site without written permission.

# data[].attributes.body
Erintegration is a Fabulous site!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Using Google Earth to send students on an engaging scavenger hunt around the world without leaving their chairs!

Google Earth is one of my students' favorite online resources - they love looking up their homes, their school, and "walking" virtually around the neighborhood. Paired with Google Classroom, I can now assign projects on Google Earth for my students to complete at home using Google Slides to record their findings. This Google App-smashing project works well for a social studies home work assignment, snow days, substitute lesson, or as a whole group technology integration activity.

This post is part of my ongoing Google Apps lessons exploration series in which I outline various lessons and we complete using Google Apps through Google Classroom for classroom and home work. Each post will also contain a free download to help you better integrate Google Apps into your plans!

The Google Earth Project

I blogged over at Classroom Tested Resources recently about the hacks I use to keep students engaged when we are stuck at SCHOOL when it is snowing (but not sticking), but there are several times a year that my students will be stuck at HOME due to snow and maybe looking for something educational to do. We belong to several digital websites as well as Kidblog so I often just recommend them, but since becoming a GAFE school this year, I thought it would be fun to connect with my students over Google Classroom with a scavenger hunt. Of course, this activity does not HAVE to be used on a Snow Day, but that is my plan so I'll share what I did.

Students will be using the Google Earth plug in on Google Maps to find locations linked to in the scavenger hunt. As they find a location, they snip it (or screenshot it) and add it to their Google Slide Show. They also describe what they see and determine where they are by using the various zoom, tilt, and perspective tools. I encourage students to involve parents in their project too!

How to set up the project on Google Classroom

First, I logged into Google Classroom and added an assignment.

In addition to written directions, I also included a link to a Brainpop video, a visual direction packet for taking screenshots (in case students and parents do not know how to do this), and a pre-made Google Slide show template. Don't worry, I have all of those items for you to download free below!

You can see my directions below.

Google Classroom Assignment Details: #1 Link to Brainpop

I have my students watch a video first as an intro to latitude and longitude on Brainpop since each coordinate links to a specific place in the scavenger hunt. Unfortunately this particular Brainpop video is not a free one. We have an account, and honestly if you do not, I highly recommend it.

Google Classroom Assignment Details: #2 Attach a .pdf

The .pdf document I link to is about taking screenshots and snips in case students do not know how to or are using an unfamiliar device. That .pdf is also free for you to download.

Google Classroom Assignment Details: #3 Insert Google Slideshow

Finally, I insert a copy of the Scavenger Hunt slide show. I make sure to click "copy for all students" so that each student gets their own to work on. Click this link to make a copy to your Google Drive.

Here is what the slideshow looks like:

With this project, students are practicing their search skills, their technology fluency, and learning a bit of geography along the way.

Looking for other Google App and GAFE resources? I'm adding every day to my GAFE board on Pinterest:

Follow Technology Erintegration's board GAFE resources on Pinterest.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
GOOGLE EARTH SCAVENGER HUNT - Erintegration

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Using Google Earth to send students on an engaging scavenger hunt around the world without leaving their chairs! Google Earth is one of my students' favorite online resources - they love looking up their homes, their school, and "walking" virtually around the neighborhood.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
One of the greatest ways we can use Google Maps is to take our students on virtual field trips.

For several years, we have been able to use Street View in Google Maps to walk down streets, look at monuments and create customised field trips without having to leave the classroom.

Recently, Google started adding 'street view' in Google maps to record places that cars can't access. Hikers strap on the special cameras pictured above, and record the trails.

Here are some of my favourite Google Map resources:

Google Map collections:

Google Cultural Institute:

The Google Cultural Institute has some fantastic resources for students. Here, you can enter art galleries and museums from around the world.

You can also use your Google account to save tours and create your own galleries.

Connected classrooms community on Google Plus:

The Connected Classrooms is a fantastic community. I have seen teachers taking students on a virtual field trip to find snakes in the wild as well as other exciting adventures.

Google Maps Engine:

Use Google maps engine to create your own maps. You can set the route for your students to take, add resources such as photo's, video and text. You can also set questions for your students to answer once they get to each spot on the journey.

Google Earth Walks:

This is a fantastic website with lots of resources. Teachers have created questions to 'real world' scenarios using Google Maps.

Here is an example of an introduction to multiplication question.

You may also like some of these more traditions Google Map projects:
Do you have a virtual field trip or Google Map resource you could share with other teachers?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Resources Galore: Using Google Maps For Virtual Field Trips - Using Technology Better

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One of the greatest ways we can use Google Maps is to take our students on virtual field trips. For several years, we have been able to use Street View in Google Maps to walk down streets, look at monuments and create customised field trips without having to leave the classroom.

# data[].attributes.headline
Measuring & Other Cool Stuff with Google Maps

# data[].attributes.subject
Measuring & Other Cool Stuff with Google Maps

# data[].attributes.body
Perimeter, area, conversions...oh, my!!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Google Maps has grown significantly over the years. It is now so much more than a way of finding your route from A to B and because of this expansion of uses and tools, Maps is a really valuable resource to use in the classroom.

Here are 5 effective ways to use the program to engage children in lessons:

1) Descriptive writing of scenes and settings.

A part of the program that is amazing for use in descriptive writing lessons, is the 360 degree photospheres. Simply visit Google Maps and search for a place of interest. Next, look at the left panel and you will see a mixture of standard and 360 photos. Students can look around, fuelling their creativity when writing.

An alternative is to use Google Streetview, in which students can find and view places and literally walk around them. Choose to explore a busy city, take a boat journey down the Amazon river or even scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef. In a recent lesson, I let the children explore the place and then asked them to write down what they had seen. In addition, encouraging them to use the magnifier to zoom in and capture finer details of places certainly worked. Streetview really immerses them in the map - as if they are there. What better way to inspire children to write a descriptive piece?

2) Mapping, creating routes and tutorials.

Mapping is a really important skill for children to learn. However, doing it by hand can become a laborious and painstaking activity. My Maps by Google (also available as an app) makes it simple and efficient to create maps, record routes and even add multimedia. Recently my students, as part of their World War 2 topic work, created a map showing the actions of Japan during the conflict.

It really is a great tool. They added markers, lines and shapes to a world map and then input photos and information which popped up when clicked on. There is even the possibility to record video tutorials about a place and upload them to the map.

Another great way the program can be used is for measuring distances, calculating areas of places and also planning routes. Just click the ruler icon and then pick different points - My Maps will automatically calculate things for you. I used this feature in a maths lesson in which the children had to measure and then find the sum of different journeys. Following this, they had to draw polygons around different places and then find the total sum of the areas.

3) Use it to inspire some artwork.

Millions of people, from all over the world, have uploaded images to Google Maps. There are some really amazing photos. Try asking your students to paint or draw one that inspires them.

How about cityscapes? A man with autism famously sketched the New York skyline from memory. Your students can do the same but they don't have to do it from memory; Google Earth has it there for them!

4) Conducting virtual field trips.

Unfortunately it is not always possible to see things in real life. In addition, the planning to conduct a field trip is often very time consuming. Virtual field trips are now possible by using Google Streetview.

During my class topic about land and oceans, the pupils had to contrast two different countries' coastlines. We did a real field trip to a nearby coast and then contrasted it by using Google Streetview to view the coastal region of another country.

One step further to a 'real' fieldtrip is to use virtual reality to explore a place. Google Cardboard is a headset which immerses you in a video or picture so you can see a 360-degree view. Put on Cardboard and you are instantly inside the media - turn your head and look around to see in all directions.

Download the Google Cardboard app and then visit Street View. Look for the Cardboard logo for places you can access. More and more are appearing daily.

Famous monuments are also covered so maybe ask your students to find one and explore it during a history lesson. My class explored an ancient temple.

5) Go on a scavenger hunt using Earth Picker .

This great website takes random images from Google Maps and you have to use the clues and details to guess where in the world it is. When you think you know, click on the world map.

After, the actual location is revealed with along with some information. This works well as a starter activity in a geography lesson!

The scope for the use of Google Maps in the classroom is vast. My students always look forward to using it and it clearly engages them. Have you used Google Maps in other ways? Let me know by commenting below.

You can also check out my complete tutorial on Google My Maps here:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Google Maps has grown significantly over the years. It is now so much more than a way of finding your route from A to B and because of this expansion of uses and tools, Maps is a really valuable resource to use in the classroom.