1. by
Mike King

2. Google Earth Defined
Google Earth is a virtual globe program that maps the earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe.1
Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips. View exotic locations like Maui and Paris as well as points of interest such as local restaurants, hospitals, schools, and more.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 1

3. Google Earth 4 Beta Google Earth 4 beta with several new features.
Windows the new version number is
Mac version is
You can now draw paths and polygons with the new free GE 4.
New features include: new icons for placemarks, faster loading 3D models, improved lighting for 3D models and printing of driving directions and folders. See Google's new page about the update.

4. Google Earth Quick Start Guide1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Search Panel- Use to find places and directions
Overview Map- Use for an additional perspective
Hide/Show sidebar- Click to conceal or display side bar
Placemark- Click to add a place mark
Polygon- Click to add a polygon
Path- Click to add a path
Image Overlay- Click to add an image
Measure- Click to measure distance
- Click to view or image
Print- Click to print current view
Navigation Controls- Use to tilt, zoom and move
Layers Panel- Use to display points of interests
Places Panel- Use to locate, save, and organize placemarks
3D Viewer- View the globe and terrain
Status Bar- View streaming status

5. Google Earth Navigation
The navigation compass allows you to manipulate the view in multiple ways.
Drag the right slider up and down to zoom in and out. Drag the top slider left and right to tilt the view. To rotate the image, spin the navigator’s on-screen wheel.  
Click On
Navigation Compass
To See Video Guide

6. Search The Globe
Whether you are looking for a specific address,  the intersection of two streets, a city, a state, a zip code, or a country, just type it into the "Fly To" box and hit Search.
Type Address
Select Search
Enid, OK, 73703
Play Video

7. Driving Directions Appear in Panel
Find Directions
Select Directions Tab
Type From Address
Type To Address
Driving Directions Appear in Panel
and on Google Map

8. Google Earth Measuring Tools
Select Ruler
The ruler allows you to measure distances from one given point to another using different units of measure.
First select the unit of measure then click on two reference points on the map.
The distance between the two points will appear next to the unit of measure box.
Select Unit of Measure
Distance
Measuring Line

9. Select Parks & Recreation
Google Earth Layers
Use the Layers panel to select from a wide variety of information that will appear as images on Google Earth. The layers options allows users to view world geographical features from roads, geographic boundaries, and parks. Select from 1 to 21 different categories by clicking on the geographical feature of interest.
Select Parks & Recreation

10. Creating A Google Earth Tour
Step One: Write A Short Script
Step Two: Do A Web Search To Locate A Video or Narration Reference (Copy & paste the URL into the script)
Step Three: Locate “A Creative Commons Picture” URL (Copy & Paste the URL into the script)

11. Picture Links are used for Layers
Example Script
Welcome to the Washington Monument the worlds tallest masonty structures, standing 555 feet. The structure was designed by robert Mills in the 1840’s and is built from marble, granite and sandstone. The construction of the monument began in 1884 and was completed in 1884, thirty years after Robert Mills death. The reason for the construction delay was in part from lack of funding and the start of the American Civil War.
For more information on the Washington Monument vist Wikipedia at
You can also see a video about the Washington Monument at
Picture Reference:
Scripts can include video and reference links. The script along with hyperlinks can be copied and pasted into the place mark window. The hyperlinks can then be opened or viewed for additional information about the location.
Reference Link
Video Link
Picture Links are used for Layers

12. Search by Typing Place or Address
Conduct A Search
Search by Typing Place or Address
Example: Washington Monument
Image Appears In Google Earth Window

13. Create A Project Tour Folder
Select Add From Google Earth Menu Bar
Select Add A Folder
Example: Ctrl + Shift + N
Creating a folder will identify the contents of the project and allows the tour to be sequenced by event.

14. Describe Contents of Folder
Describe A Project
Create A Title
Example: Historical Places In America
Describe Contents of Folder
This folder contains a link to a flyby tour of Historical places to visit in America. Each placemark on you journey will include video links, audio files and information on each of the historical sites you visit. At the end of your journey you will be able to download a short quiz on place Historical Places in America.

15. Creating A Place mark
Add a placemark by selecting Add in the Google menu bar then select Placemark or Ctrl + Shift + P
A place mark allows viewers to travel to places in Google Earth as they are assigned in the project folder.

16. Adding Content To A Place mark Window
You can add a title and content to a place mark window.
Add A Title
Copy & Paste Script From Word File
Scripts can include links to audio and video files.
Active Reference URL’s
Adding Content To A Place mark Window
Select OK

17. Click Icon To Choose Options Menu
Select An Icon
Click Icon To Choose Options Menu
Select an icon that fits the reference url, such as video or picture
Select An Icon
An Icon is an active Google Earth reference point and can be opened to reveal a content window.
Click Icon To Open

18. Overlay Image Search
To locate an overlay for the project & conduct a Washington Monument Creative Commons image search.
Picture Reference Links:
Photo is posted under a creative commons licences agreement and has been provided by Anders Brownworth at

19. Creative Commons
Hyper Link
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization providing free legal mechanisms for learners inside and outside schools to share and remix content.
A creative commons environment allows for an expanded range of creative work to be available for others to legally build upon and share.

20. Adding An Overlay
To add an overlay image click on the project folder under My Places.
To add an Image Overlay select Add from the Google Earth Menu and click on Image Overlay Or press (Ctrl+Shift+O) an overlay window will appear.

21. Adding An Image Link & Content
Use Green Corner to Size
Add Title
Copy & paste the image url into the link line
Use Crosshair To Move Image
Add creative commons credits to information window
Overlay Image Appears

22. First Stop Washington Monument
Overlay
Place mark

23. Saving A kmz Project
Go To File
Save
Save As
When you are ready to save your file. Highlight your folder, then click on “File” “Save” “Save Place as…”This will save it as a .kmz. This small file can be hyperlinked into a presentation.
When someone opens the .kmz file, Google Earth will automatically be launched or users will be encouraged to download the program.

24. Take A kmz Hyperlink Tour
Click on Selected Image
Select Inset
Select Hyperlink
Click On kmz
Select OK

25. Take A Round Trip Ticket
Click on hyperlink Image
Select Historical Places
To take a round trip ticket to the place marks, highlight the “Historical Places In America” folder and click the play button.
Play Tour

26. Aug 25: Google has a new venture called Google Sky
Aug 25: Google has a new venture called Google Sky. The beta version of earth now includes Google sky. The feature allows users to get close to over 100 million galaxies and 200 million star.
To view the star, on your window, download the recent version Google earth software, launch application, go to view and select to ‘switch to sky’, zoom in to see the blazing star, black hole, constellation.

27. Click on icon for Google Sky Link
Select View
Open Google Earth
Select Layer
Switch to Sky

28. Google Sky Tools Select “Sky View” Play Motion Bar
Select “The Planets”

29. Click on photo above to launch kmz planet tour.
Take A Planet Tour
Click on photo above to launch kmz planet tour.

30. Google Tours
Forbidden City

31. Google Literature

32. Google Earth Resources
Tour