Using Google Maps in the Classroom

Lots of people have used Google Maps to find directions, but did you know it can also be a powerful tool in the classroom? The use of Google Maps in the classroom creates an engaging atmosphere with students by merging ideas with visual representation. By signing up for a free Google account you can access the My Maps feature of Google Maps and create your own editable map. Here is an example of a quick map I created that explores the travels of Marco Polo. Click on any of the blue points to view the description, image, or video that I have added.

For a better representation of the map click here: Large Map





When you create a My Map you can add pictures and descriptions to locations, add hyperlinks, embed videos, and create your own emphasis of events through routes, lines, and shapes. Some uses of the My Maps tool in the classroom could be:

• In English you could show the history and progression of the Romantic literary period
• In Science you could create a visual representation of the spread of a pandemic or scientific idea
• In Social Science you could demonstrate the movements of ethnic groups
• In Geography you could create a map of land resources and waterways 
• In History you could show the movements of a battle or a route of conquest 

You can embed or link your own maps into PowerPoint slides, in your Blackboard Learn course, or through an extension with Google Earth for a 3D representation
Here is a Google created tutorial on how to easily create your own My Map:



 


If you would like more information or assistance in creating your own Google Map for the classroom please contact the Sandbox!