-+DIY+Google+Earth

== = DIY Google Earth =

[|Google Earth] Google's satellite imagery-based mapping product puts the whole world on a student's computer. It enables users to "fly" from space to street level to find geographic information and explore places around the world. Like a video game and a search engine rolled into one, Earth is basically a 3D model of the entire planet that lets you grab, spin and zoom down into any place on Earth. Now, with Google Earth 4.3, you can tour distant cities with Google StreetView, view photo-realistic 3D buildings, and even show your students sunset around the world with the new Sunlight feature. For more go to [|Google Earth for Educators].

Things You Can Do...
1. View an image of home, school, or any where on Earth. 2. Tour the World 3. Get driving directions and fly (follow) the route 4. View other features and locations created by Google Earth users 5. View 3D terrain of a place 6. Embed video from the Internet, Movie Maker, or Photostory

New Features in Version 5.0
This version of Google Earth has a number of exciting new features, including:
 * **Ocean** - Fly and navigate under the ocean and explore underwater terrain. You can also [|display the ocean surface].
 * **Touring** - Record, play and share custom tours that capture your actions and movements in Google Earth. [|Learn more].
 * **Historical imagery** - Explore images of the recent and not-so-recent past. [|Learn more].
 * **Mars** - View imagery and terrain of the red planet. [|Learn more].
 * Not available on your CFF laptops. If you'd like to use these features and have your laptops updated sent a request to the helpdesk@wssd.org.

Classroom Ideas for Google Earth
For more ideas go to [|Geo Education-Classroom Ideas]
 * create historical tours for social studies
 * study distance calculations using real-time coordinates and measuring tools
 * study continents, mountain ranges, volcanic activity
 * study the cause and effect of natural disasters like Hurrican Katrina
 * bring literature to life with tours of locations in the text; view [|GoogleLitTrips]

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=Getting Started=

New Folder and Saving

 * To create your trip folder, make sure "My Places" is highlighted, then at the tops of the screen choose "ADD → FOLDER". Give the folder an appropriate name.
 * Later to save your project, make sure your trip folder is highlighted, then right-click on it and choose "Save as". Give your toura name and save it to the location you are using for this project. This will be a KMZ file that you can send via e-mail, or place on your blog or wiki so others can access.

Finding Places

 * type in a full address in "search - fly to"
 * click on the magnifying glass

Placemarks

 * click on the push pin or go to "add" and click on "placemark"
 * In the description box you can title your place and include text and images on the location
 * edit description box by holding cursor over your placemark and righ-clicking on "properties"
 * customize your icons by clicking on the push pin in the edit placemark box
 * To play your tour make sure all boxes are checked and click play

View this tutorial on creating a Google Earth tour

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View tutorial on creating a file and adding placemarks media type="custom" key="4440061"

Embedded courtesy of [|www.teachertube.com]

//*It is available on all CFF laptops. Requires a lot of bandwith so it may run slow with too many users at once.//

Resources
- Pre-made tours in World History and U.S. History on History Tours. - [|Basics of Google Earth] - Sample [|Google Earth Tours] - Classroom activities from [|Google Education] - [|Download Google Earth] to your computer


 * Descriptions of Google Earth courtesy of [|http://earth.google.com]

Google Sketch Up
Your students can create, modify, and share 3D models with [|Google Sketch U]p. When finished, students can print their image, make a movie, or export it to another application.

5 Cool Ideas for How to Use SketchUp in Your Classroom
Ready to explore SketchUp? Here are some ideas of how you might want to use it in your classroom:
 * Build a 3D model of your school.
 * Use SketchUp to visualize the geometry concepts you are teaching.
 * Create a 3D model of the California Missions and then incorporate those models into Google Earth.
 * Have students build a model of their houses.
 * When studying architecture of the past, create a 3D model of an ancient pyramid.