Google Maps: Use "Earth View" for 3D Maps

Most people are familiar with Google Earth, but it seems as if the Google team has now integrated Google Earth features into Google Maps. When you click on Google Maps, you now have the option to click on "Earth View" to fly to different 3D maps. Once you click on "Earth View" a random list of 3D places will appear for you to fly to! Here I have flown to Reichstage, Germany. Notice the building is being viewed from the side, and I can see buildings behind it.

Google Maps: Use Street View for a Virtual Tour

Are you on a budget? Can't afford to travel to places with your class? Consider using Street View in Google Maps to virtually explore areas you can't otherwise visit. While this feature is not yet available everywhere, I was surprised to see it offered as many places as it is. Street View allows you to move the little "Google Man" from the compass rose directly onto the map to get a view from street level. Real photographs are strung together to create a "walking tour". Look around the photograph, turn around, walk forward, or walk backward within this view. How do you do this? Navigate to Google Maps. Zoom in to the city of the area that you are interested in. (If you don't zoom in close enough, this won't work.) Click the Google Man and drag him onto the map. If the street you choose is not available in Street View, it will tell you.

If the street is available, you will see a preview of the street above the Google Man's head. Drop him in place! When you are finished, click the little "X" in the upper right hand corner to exit this view.

Vote in Doodle for Google's Contest

Between May 11 and May 18, you can vote for student created Google designs in Google's national "Doodle 4 Google Contest". Logos are broken down into age categories, and students were challenged to design a Google logo based on the theme "What I Wish For The World". It's definitely interesting to see how the younger generation views world issues. The winning logo will be displayed on Google.com on May 21st. Good luck to all the finalists!

Turning Off Overlays in Google Earth

There are many different layers that can be turned on in Google Earth to provide your students with additional information. For example, Rumsey Historical Maps will overlay a historical map over the current image of the earth for you to compare. There are NASA satellite images that you can overlay on top of the earth as well. However, once they are turned on, how do you get them off? I tried clicking the link, "Hide this layer", but the overlay didn't turn off. (See picture of overlay below)When you activate an overlay, the overlay moves from the "Layers" window pane to the "Places" window pane. Once you find the layer in the "Places" window pane, uncheck the box to the left of the layer, and the overlay will be removed. (See below)

Using Soople to search Google

Are you looking for an easier way to search, but still want the power of Google? Check out Soople.com! Soople is an interface that works over top of Google, and allows the average user to search the Internet easily. You can search for file types, definitions, images, and news by typing keywords into the box. Soople creates the language and search queries for you. Also, with Soople you can translate websites and find phone numbers or locations. At the bottom of the site, you can see who is linking to your website by typing in the URL of your personal site. Soople may be an answer for you if searching on Google is not as fast as you’d like it to be.