Everything you ever wanted to know about the new Google Earth...

...but were too afraid to ask.

Google Earth

Navigating in the new Google Earth

  • The Navigation tools are in the bottom right hand corner.

  • Zoom with the +, -, or pinch. You can also double click anywhere on the screen to zoom in to that specific location.

  • Click Pegman to highlight any place where Street Views are available. Click on the highlights to view imagery.

  • Holding "Shift" and dragging the mouse forward/backward will make the Google Earth camera parallel to the ground.

  • Click on the crosshair to fly to your current location.

  • The 3D button will tilt the view and fly in an orbit around your current location. You must be fairly close to the ground for this to work.

  • Can also drag the digital globe in the bottom right to move around.


Searching in the new Google Earth:

  • Click the magnifying glass, search for any location on Planet Earth

  • Locations you search for can be added to your Google Earth bookmarks to view later.

  • The more specific your search, the more reliable your result

  • Generic searches (I.E. Starbucks) will look for those locations around your current location.

Create and Explore your own Bookmarks

  • Add places to your bookmarks to easily access them later.

  • You can export your bookmarks as a KML/KMZ file to open in Google My Maps.

  • You can edit your bookmark names, too.

  • Bookmarks can be used to show locations to students of places studying in class (settings of books, famous locations from history, etc)

Knowledge Cards

  • Learn more about locations by first doing a search in Google Earth (the Eiffel Tower, Gettysburg, etc).

  • Click the card which appears in the top right hand corner

  • Knowledge cards also show business hours, phone numbers, and helpful web listings

  • For physical landmarks and parks, the cards show topographical maps, related locations, and trivia.

  • Cards give more specific information and are good starters for research projects.

The I'm Feeling Lucky Button

  • Roll the dice by clicking the button, and travel to one of 25,000+ different locations around the world.

  • Great way to "get lost" in the new Google Earth

  • Make for quality student writing prompts

Customizing the Map Style

  • Have lower performing Chromebooks? Change the Map Style to fit your device: Clean, Exploration, or Everything.

  • You can also customize your own Google Earth look and feel (get rid of the cloud layer, view bodies of water, landmarks, etc)

  • Wonderful way to show students what the Earth looks like with no boundaries/borders.

Google Earth Voyages

  • Voyages are the new "Tours" of Google Earth

  • Interactive learning experiences for students

  • Voyages include Youtube Videos, weblinks, and helpful information

  • Organized by content area

  • Can be used for instruction or student self-guided learning

  • Voyages can be shared to Google Classroom

Share Earth imagery and Street Views to posts in Google Classroom:

  • Find the image/location/street view you want your class to see.

  • Click the "Share" button in Google Earth and select Classroom.

  • Select the class for the post/assignment/question.

  • Your selected Earth imagery is automatically attached onto your assignment/question/post for your students to view and interact with.

Uploading KML/KMZ Files to Google Earth

Classic Google Earth Tours Work, too!

  • You can upload a classic Google Earth Tour (with videos and animations) and view it on the new Earth, too!

Viewing Photos in the new Google Earth

  • Open the Google Earth menu.

  • Select "Photos" to see all user submitted photos on Google Earth

  • You can scroll through multiple photos for different locations

Editing basic KML files

  • Import your KML file and click "Edit"

  • Click the folder/location name you want to change

  • Press the "label" button and edit the name of your placemark.

Viewing Tourbuilder Files

  • Create a Tour telling a story at tourbuilder.withgoogle.com.

  • Make your tour publically viewable, then click the three lines in the top right.

  • Click "Open in Earth" to view your tour in the new Google Earth.

The World Turned Upside Down

  • Sick of your students telling you that North is up?

  • Click and drag over the poles to invert Google Earth.

  • The country and ocean names remain right-side up.

  • Click the compass in the bottom right to flip it back.

The Measurement Tool

  • Measure distances, perimeter, and area using the new Measurement Tool

  • Click the little ruler in the lower left.

  • Click multiple points to determine distance.

  • Connect points to create a polygon.