Google Maps is an online mapping service that allows users to search for locations, get directions, and view satellite imagery. It launched in 2005 and made mapping much more accessible online. Users can enter locations, zoom in and out on maps, view street imagery, and customize maps. Google Maps uses geocoding to convert addresses into latitude and longitude coordinates to display on maps. It offers keyboard shortcuts and various display options to control map views.

1. Google Maps

2. Google MapsIn February of 2005, Google announce the debut of a new service. Google Maps. It changed the face of mapping and cartography on the Web.

3. What does it do?Google Maps is a web mapping service that:·uses a single search box·is draggable·uses an integrated local search·has satellite imagery·has keyboard shortcutsVery easy to use

4. Getting AroundGoogle maps starts with the overview map. You can move around that map by clicking and dragging your mouse on the map, by double-clicking your mouse on the map, or by using the arrow keys.

5. Entering a LocationThere are many ways to enter locations, but let's start off easy. The conventional way of entering a location is a street address. This is common place, but there is a great deal of behind the scenes work. In order to display a map of a street address, google maps must find the latitude and longitude that corresponds with that address. This is called geocoding.

6. When you enter a query into the box, google takes your input and does it s best to turn into a location that can be mapped. So lets start close to home and enter the address 90-15 queens Boulevard, Elmhurst Queens, NY 11373What comes up?You could have also started with the business name, Queens Center Mall, NY

7. So What works·Full street address·intersection and city, or intersection and zip·city and state·the bare city name·airport codes·zip code or postal codes for other countries·subway stations in US, Japan, and UK·Latitude and longitude·place near another place

8. You control the Horizontal and the VerticalBelow the pan controls lie the zoom controls. There are approximately 18 zoom levels, from a view that shows multiple copies of the Earth's surface right down the individual city block. The button marked with the plus sign zooms in one level, while the minus sign zooms out. You can click anywhere along this ruler to zoom directly to a given map scale.

9. This allows you to view the street view. This is amazing because you can look at your own house. Do that now. What do you notice about your house?Street Peg ManPeg Man

10. Clues in the photo may indicate how old the photo is. This is not a live photo. Google street view's can be as old as 3 years.Check out your house!

11. Also, you will find the map display controls in the upper right-hand corner. Google Maps have 3 modes: Map, Satellite and Terrain. It has a Traffic Mode and then there is More.Under More you can select: Photos, Videos, Wikipedia, Webcams, Transit, and sometimes Real Estate.Map Display Controls

12. Photos have a white borderVideos have a black borderWikipedia articles have the Wikipedia iconWebcams also have a white border so you may want to deselect photos so you can differentiateTransit shows lines over roads. Red means slow, yellow is moving and green is fast.

13. Every Google map has a scale bar on the lower left side of the map. You can drag the map over the scaleto estimate distances. As you zoom in and out it will changethe scale.

14. Try now:Type in the United States- what is the scale?Drag over Canada-what is the scale?This shows the dynamic nature of Google Maps. Any map will distort and exaggerate the Earth's surface as you head towards the north and south poles. This is why Greenland looks bigger than Australia on a map, when in fact it is much smaller.

15. Short Cut KeysWith Google's typical thoroughness, the Google Maps user interface makes good use of keyboard shortcuts.·Use the arrow keys to pan left, right, up and down·the page up, page down, home and end keys let you pan out even wider·the plus key lets you zoom in and the minus key is for zooming out

16. Customizing a Google SearchThink about the trip you can take yourstudents on!Type in an address , if you don't know onegoogle a place like:·Empire State Building,·Red Square·Gettysburg Battlefield·Beijing, China

17. Adding a Place MarkAfter you type in the location you can look for the place markby clicking on the place mark and Save to My Maps. It will then ask you to save to other maps or a new map.

18. Creating a Customized MapType in an address, click on the place mark, click on save to my maps

19. Step 2Click on the place mark

20. Step 3Click on Save to My MaPS

21. Step 4Now save to either an existing map or create a new map.

22. Step 5Click on the drop down menu and choose Create A New Map

24. or

25. Click on My Maps

26. Click on Create New Map

27. Give it a title and a description and then click save.

28. Inviting Collaborators!!!

29. Search Maps for Maps already created!!!!!

30. Brainstorming to create your ownScope and Sequence for each grade is a good place to starthttp://schools.nycenet.edu/offices/teachlearn/ss/SocStudScopeSeq.pdf

32. TUsing New York Learns.... Great ResourceNo log in info is neededIt is a free, comprehensive resource!!

33. Search by Keyword/Phrase, Standard Area, or Academic LevelThe Advanced Search is also useful

34. NYLearns.org - Advanced Search

35. Brainstorm