Google Maps Tools for Critical Thinking and Creativity

Google Maps is a useful tool for many of us in our day to day lives, but many classrooms don't take advantage of some of the incredible resources that are connected to Google Maps.

Google maps can provide classrooms with some incredible opportunities to create lessons based on creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. 

Here are a few resources connected to Google Maps that classroom teachers will find useful:

• Geoguessr
  Game using StreetView images that drops the player in a random location and challenges them to work out where they are.
  Create Your Own Geoguessr with Geosettr
• Smarty Pins
  A fun and interactive game that tests players’ trivia and geography knowledge
• My Maps
  Create custom maps to share online with Google My Maps We recently used My Maps as part of our Biome Unit.
• Google Cultural Institute World Wonders
  The World Wonders Project is a valuable resource for students and scholars who can now virtually discover some of the most famous sites on earth.
• Street View Treks 
  Trek the world with Google Maps. Travel with the team as they collect Street View imagery cultural, historical and geographical wonders.

Here is a bit more information on Google Maps in Education:

• Maps
• Google Maps for the Classroom Resources
• Google Maps for Education
• Seven Wonders of the World to Explore on Google Street View
• 10 Ways to Use Google Maps in the Classroom
• Google Maps YouTube Channel

How could you incorporate these into your student's learning? What other Google Maps resources do you use?