My thoughts about Google maps - Part 3

My favorite feature is the satellite view and being able to zoom in on locations. Sometimes they are places I know well and other times they are places I have never been.

I created a map of Hay Springs (see post 2). While looking at various locations in San Francisco I thought it might be interesting to tie it to family history. Locate the homes I lived in, schools attended, libraries of my youth, favorite places to play or visit.
I would also like to work with GoogleLitTrips. Find a book, read it to or with a group of students, then plot the locations.

I didn't embed a map on my library site. The library site should really be attached to the school web page and the map would then be on the school page.

Google Maps could be used anytime to find the location of places in a story, then see where those places are in relation to Hay Springs. Each class could have its own My Map with the places located over the semester or year. In a unit on a particular author it would be interesting to locate the important places of his/her life and the locations of the stories written (assuming they are not totally imaginary). It would help the geographical awareness of students, especially those who have never traveled outside of Nebraska.

Google Maps - Part 2

I found the Hay Springs Public School. Although the marker is a bit off. I have added Hay Springs School Library as a new site, then had to move the marker. I added the web page address. It is a blog/web page. I try to add book reviews. I got behind for a while, but added some last month.

I went to My Maps and created a map of Hay Springs with sites of interest labeled. Changed the icon, added some comments. Needs some photos also. For now it is unlisted. The link is: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=
106937003758274301874.00046d1f52db29808e43e

Google Maps part 1

I have a love/hate relationship with Google maps. I love finding places, but I hate when things are wrong or when it sends you the long (wrong) way.

I recently hosted the Panhandle Conference Quiz Bowl. We had classes that day so we decided to hold the contest at Mirage Flats Elem. School, the K-8 school in our district. It is about 15 miles away so I needed to create a map for the other teams. Google Maps - ready made map and directions. NO - the marker is 8-10 north and a little east of the correct location -useless for giving directions. I will see how long it takes to correct the locations. X marks the spot. June 5, just checked and no change. Either I did it wrong or it takes more than a few days.

1445 K St. 68509 - Our state capitol. If you change from the satellite view to the street, the cars are gone. Obviously not the same day, same time view. I had Google give directions from Hay Springs to the capitol. It always wants to send me 20 miles west through Chadron - 469 miles and 7:28 hours. The way we normally drive going south to Alliance is 442 miles and 7:39 hrs.

Took a look at the kangaroos. Then decided to get directions from Hay Springs (I always love these). After getting to the port in Washington state you "Kayak across the Pacific Ocean Entering Hawaii" only 2,756 mi later. Didn't work to get to the Eiffel Tower.

I had fun with the street view looking around my old neighborhood in San Francisco.

Moved the Mirage Flats marker again. Will check in a few days.