Sketch-Up+and+Earth

**Web Site:**
 * Google Sketch-Up & Earth **

**21st Century Skill(s) the tool might address**: Communication, collaboration, ICT Literacy, Information Literacy,

=**[|Google Sketchup] ** = Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything you like. Engineering and architectural 3D software mini CAD.

Here is Google's description of Sketchup: "Create 3D models and share them with the world. Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything you like. Most people get rolling with SketchUp in just a few minutes. Dozens of video tutorials, an extensive Help Center and a worldwide user community mean that anyone who wants to make 3D models with SketchUp, can. Redecorate your living room. Design a new piece of furniture. Model your city for Google Earth. Create a skatepark for your hometown, then export an animation and share it on YouTube. There's no limit to what you can create with SketchUp. **Get models online for free.** You can build models from scratch, or you can download what you need. People all over the world share what they've made on the Google 3D Warehouse. It's a huge, searchable repository of models, and it's free."

Here is Google's video introduction to Sketchup:

A Google Sketchup tour of Prague Castle [|Prague Castle]

media type="youtube" key="5PLSlHbQ-bc?fs=1" height="385" width="480"

** Resource Links **

 * [|Training Videos for Novice Users]
 * [|Training Videos for Intermediate Users]
 * [|Training Videos for Expert Users]
 * [|Self-Paced Tutorials]
 * [|Sketchup Help Group]
 * [|Pre-made Shetchup Models (General)]
 * [|Pre-made Sketchup Models of Computer Components]
 * [|Newsweek Jan. 16, 2009: Kids with Autism Love Sketchup]
 * [|Sketchup Blog]
 * [|Differences between Basic and Pro Versions]
 * [|Plugins to expand Sketchup's capabilities]
 * [|Put a Sketchup Model in Google Earth]
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[|Build 3D models of the places that are meaningful to you]   <span class="wiki_link_ext"> (tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; padding-right: 10px;">[|Google 3D Warehouse] <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">SketchUcation

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**__Strengths__**

 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Basic Version Free for Everyone, Pro Version Free for Teachers, Pro Version 3-yr License only $30 per computer for Networked Student Computers
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Extensive, High-Quality Training Videos
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">User-friendly in-application "Instructor"
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lots of pre-made models available through "3D Warehouse" and elsewhere on the Web - speeds up the design process
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Easy enough for young children, but powerful enough for professional engineers, architects, and artists
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Export pictures as png, tif, jpg, or bmp files to import into other documents
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Record videos called "walk throughs" after finishing models
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Export "walk throughs" as avi or mov files for use in other videos
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Opinion: Sketchup is like Lincoln Logs and Legos on steriods!
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Generates 3-D models with a small amount of skill Excellent training.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Many training videos, from beginners to experts. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Strong SketchUp community with groups, galleries, blog, resources, etc. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Versatile software that can be used in simple 3D forms for beginners to complex models in fields like architecture, engineering, construction, and gaming. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Excellent as a presentation tool. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Can create incredible images <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Compatible with other software and can be used as a plug-in or can export SketchUp models to other software for further manipulation. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Can incorporate models into Google Earth. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Easy software setup. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**__Weaknesses__**

 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Requires <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[|powerful computer] to run smoothly
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Takes some time to learn how to use it, see the tutorial under resources for help
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">So many capabilities can be overwhelming
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Users more or less need a high-speed Internet connection to take advantage of Sketchup and its ancillary materials
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Free version is limited, if you’re an educator get the full version
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Can sometimes be temperamental when trying to rotate an object to a specific position
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> SketchUp Pro is costly <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Student version of Pro has a yearly subscription ($49 as of 6/21/09) <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Can be intimidating to learn <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Lengthy training to use complex capabilities. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**__Opportunities__**

 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Number of Sketchup users is growing, increasing the number of training resources and models readily available
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Google Earth offers competitions from time to time to encourage Sketchup users to make models of famous landmarks
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Collaborate and communicate with other Sketchup users across the world
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Excellent tool for teaching measurement skills
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Plan on doing some remodeling? Try it on SketchUp first
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create 3-D models of anything you can think of
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Google has competitions and other forums for sharing content. Students can share models with other students. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Students can collaborate with other students from around the world to build model together. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Images can be created to use dynamic 3D images in presentations.Can you in history to create historical buildings <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> You can buy the Google SketchUp Pro for Professional use for $495. By buying the program you can email technical support, create custom intelligent object/components, generate reports, export 2D vectors, import 2D & 3D, create and print large format, multi-page documents, and create custom edge treatments for style. For more information comparing the two products visit: <span class="wiki_link_ext" style="color: #c0c0c0;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[]

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**__Threats__**

 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Students might upload models to Google Earth that would make it possible for predators to locate them.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Students might become obsessed with Sketchup and fail to complete other work!
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">None, although if your students get really good at this program they might drop out of school and make tons of money
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Galleries and Community could possibly have inappropriate content. <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)

=<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Ideas for the Classroom ** = //Language Arts://
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Write and record (audio) narration to accompany "walk through" video.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">(Add more ideas here.)

//Math://
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It would be really cool for students to make simple models of buildings and submit them to Google Earth.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Excellent tool for students to explore measurement and geometry concepts.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Students can create 3-D objects and use the measurements to calculate volume and surface area.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have students design houses and use the measurements to find costs for paint, flooring, sod, furniture etcetera, excellent way to combine measurement and life skills.

//Science://
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use it to make models of inventions for science/invention fairs.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Construction engineering: have students compete for best bridge or building design. Assign construction material costs and fulfill a building objective, e.g. build a visitor center that spans the Grand Canyon (get the canyon image off Google Earth.)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Build a cell, brain, flower parts, etc.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Design a super roller coaster or amusement park ride.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Design an electrical circuit.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Design an engine.

//Social Studies://
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Download and "walk through" models of famous historical buildings
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Classes can build virtual museums before a field trip to map out their route.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Teachers can have students create models of the same building as hit has evolved over time.
 * <span style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">http://showmedo.com/videotutorials/video?name=sketchupShapiroArtMuseum2&fromSeriesID=42
 * <span style="color: #660000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">http://www.3dvinci.net/teacherguide/art_history_6-9.pdf

//Visual and Performing Arts://
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Create models of props and stage sets before building.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just make something that looks cool! 8-)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">(Add more ideas here.)

//Other//
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-size: 10pt; padding-right: 10px;">[|Design of a raft] <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-size: 10pt; padding-right: 10px;">[|Use in presentations] <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-size: 10pt; padding-right: 10px;">[|Passive solar design] <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-size: 10pt; padding-right: 10px;">[|Student product design] <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-size: 10pt; padding-right: 10px;">[|K-12 Slideshow] <span class="wiki_link_ext">(tim.mc.6.21.09)
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Teachers, with some skill, can create virtual tours of the school or any place else for that matter.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Use sketchUp with children with Autism to let them express their creativity.
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">SketchUp: Why kids with Autism love this software

=<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Teaching with Google Earth** =

Lesson Plans for Integration Google Earth Lessons

Classroom integration content from Google http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/

Welcome to the Google Earth for Educators Community, a site to share, connect & learn
This site is brought to you by Google and made especially for Google Earth educators and students. Come join and help us build it!

Get lesson plans and ideas on how Google Earth can help students learn in your specific subject. || || **<span style="color: #005596 !important;">[|Tutorials & Tips] ** View videos, tutorials and an interactive game to help teach Google Earth basics to your students. || Connect with other educators through our forum and mailing list to share tips and get ideas. || || **<span style="color: #005596 !important;">[|Google Earth Pro Grants] ** New! Use our Pro Grants Wizard to see if you are qualified to apply for a Google Earth Pro Grant. || See some great examples of student work created in Google Earth, and submit your own students work. || || **<span style="color: #005596 !important;">[|What Educators are Saying] ** See quotes about Google Earth in the classroom and share how you use Google Earth at your school. ||
 * || [[image:http://www.google.com/images/comm35.gif]]Have a question? Got something to share? Want to swap tips with other educators around the world? Try our **<span style="color: #005596 !important;">[|Talk Teacher-to-Teacher] ** forum and mailing list! ||  ||
 * [[image:http://www.google.com/images/icons/learnmore_123-35.gif]] || ** [|Classroom Resources] **
 * [[image:http://www.google.com/images/comm35.gif]] || **<span style="color: #005596 !important;">[|Talk Teacher-to-Teacher] ** New!
 * [[image:http://www.google.com/images/icons/image_ad-46.gif]] || **<span style="color: #005596 !important;">[|Student Work Showcase] **

Here are some excellent resources from around Wikispaces for you to explore.

How to Use Google Earth Tools

Activities You Can Do Using Google Earth

How to Use Google Earth for Math

A History Webquest Using Google Earth!

A Google Earth tour of Prague Castle [|Prague Castle]

Google Earth Files - KML/KMZ
So, what are these KML and KMZ files anyway? They are Google Earth's file format for storing placemarks, network link information, and much more. I won't go into detail here, since there are excellent reference documents available from Google (see below). But, let me describe the fundamentals. KML stands for Keyhole Markup Language (Keyhole was the name of the application before Google bought it and added their own features and larger databases). KMZ stands for KML-Zipped. It is the default format for KML because it is a compressed version of the file. One of the more powerful features of KMZ is that it allows any images you use - say custom icons, or images in your descriptions - to be zipped up within the KMZ file. That way you can share these details without having to reference the files through some link to the Internet. For KMZ files without images, the file size will be much smaller than the equivalent KML file

http://earth.google.com/outreach/tutorial_kmz.html

<span style="color: #3a4b78; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Some KMZ Files

Shakespeare Locations New Castle