Little Known Google Gems

Google has some amazing apps and programs that many of us, who are entrenched in the Google ecosystem, may not even be aware of!  Here a few examples of great applications to get your class moving in a more digital direction.

Google Lego Builder   

                      

                           Chrome App

Website

     Lego Builder will allow students to build with virtual LEGOS!  Yes, I said LEGOS!  Students simply log in with their Google credentials, and they are off!  This great tool works just like the physical Legos do, except you have the option of changing the color of individual blocks and there is no limit to how many of them you can place on your foundation.  You also have use of special Lego types, such as doors and windows, allowing your creation to be complete.  Once finished with your work, you can publish it to Google.  JUST be sure that it is appropriate and complies with House Rules.  Students can generate some of the most amazing works and builds if we just give them the opportunity!

Google Sky

Website

We all know about Google Earth and how cool it is to zoom in and out of locations all over world, but what about beyond our planet?  Google Sky takes you out into the universe, and allows you to zoom in to places that require a very powerful telescope.  Students will really like being able to control what they see without the need to look through a telescope.   The zoom feature is very powerful and there is so much to experience with this simple application!  Take your students on a virtual tour of our universe with a couple clicks of a mouse!  

Google Art Project

                      

                          Chrome App

Website

This application will allow you to view hundreds of works of art from many different museums all over the world.  Students can be taken on virtual tours, and are even given the controls to zoom in and out of each piece of artwork.  There is also an option to curate and collect the artwork that can aid in instruction and learning.  With budget constraints, it is difficult to bring students to these great museums, but with Google Art Project, the museums visit our students in matter of seconds!

HINT:  
If you are a Google Classroom user, add the Share to Classroom application to guide all of your students to the same page!  All of these applications can be pushed out using the Share to Classroom extension.  Not sure how to get it or use it?  Click here for the tutorial to get started!