Land Change: An Introduction to Google EarthLand Change: An Introduction to Google Earth

This lesson set guides introduces students to analysis of land cover change and land use change over time (collectively called land change) using Google Earth and its built-in tools and capabilities. Students will explore the area and topography around their houses and neighborhoods. They will create a simple land use map while differentiating land cover from land use, and natural from man-made features; then observe changes in landcover/land use over time. Learners apply lesson skills in suggested extension activities where they investigate causes and effects of change scenarios in other U.S. and global communities.

The lesson set was originally presented at the 2013 Califorina Science Conference by California View, with support from the AmericaView consortium. The lesson plans were developed by Rick Landenberger, faculty at West Virginia University and then Executive Director of AmeriaView; Tom Mueller, faculty at California University of Pennsylvania and Director of PennsylvaniaView; and Pia van Benthem, CaliforniaView Coordinator and staff at the Center for Spatial Technologies and Remote Sensing at Unversity of California, Davis.

Intended for middle and high school students, this lesson is easily adaptable to lower grades as well as modifiable for greater knowledge and complexity.

Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this lesson:
    MS-LS2-4     MS-ESS3-3     HS-LS2-6     HS-ESS3-6