Virtual reality is making its way into K-12 and college classrooms at an increasingly fast rate. We believe that this technology has the potential to be one of the biggest game changers that education has ever seen—though we’re not quite there yet. There are a few VR systems that are great for educational use, including the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and Google Expeditions. This week, however, we’re going to talk about the last one. Google Expeditions is different from the other two systems for the simple fact that it’s designed specifically to be educational. There are a bunch of different offerings for anywhere between 10 and 30 students and all of the content is geared towards deeper learning. Plus, the systems come with incredibly in-depth lesson plans and expeditions that help educators bring their traditional teaching alive! Here are some of the best lessons or ‘expeditions’ that can be done with Google Expeditions in the classroom.
Ancient History
One of the subjects that virtual reality is most valuable in is history. Using VR, students no longer have to read about the historical events of the past—they can travel to them. Virtual reality is a powerful tool that is able to immerse students directly into historical events or time periods. When it comes to Google Expeditions, there are many lessons that are great for doing this. For example, one of the most popular programs is called Ancient Egypt. Obviously, this is used to teach students about what it was like in this highly significant point of time in a social studies or history class. This expedition takes students back in time to show them the Nile River, introduce them to some of the rulers of Egypt, teach them about Egyptian religion, detail the building of the pyramids, and even take them inside an ancient Egyptian tomb. They’ll learn about how the Egyptians developed their civilization thousands of years ago and why they were able to remain so powerful for thousands of years.
A similar program is available to introduce the fascination of ancient Greece in a similar way. Obviously, ancient Greece was one of the most significant civilizations of ancient times and learning about it using Google Expeditions offers students a whole new way to understand its significance. In these expeditions, some of the topics that are covered include the Minoans, the Acropolis, the Elgin Marbles, Mount Olympus, ancient Greek art, the Parthenon, and more. Students will learn about what made ancient Greece the birthplace of Western civilization and how the accomplishments of the ancient Greeks resonate to this day. They even associated their names with advancements in STEM, including in science and the arts. The expeditions offer students the chance to examine many compelling Greek artifacts up close and take a walk through museums to see ancient Greek treasures, sculptures, pottery, and temples.
And, of course, no trek through history would be complete without stopping in ancient Rome. Thinking back to my history classes, it seemed like we were learning about ancient Greece and ancient Rome every year, but getting the chance to do so in virtual reality would have been much better. In the ancient Rome expedition, students will be transported to significant moments in Roman history, including the Battle of Zama, gladiator contests, and daily life in the city. They will also learn about ancient Roman engineering and construction, Roman cities, and the Roman Senate. Since this city reportedly dates all the way back to 753 BC, there is a ton for students to learn in this expedition. Like ancient Greece, students will study how ancient Rome grew to become a powerful empire and lasted for over 1,000 years. They will also see how the ancient Romans launched advances in government, engineering, warfare, and the arts, opening their eyes to the connections ancient civilizations and modern powers share.
Geography Lessons
Another way in which VR is commonly used in education is in geography classes. If you began reading and thought of other subjects in which VR would work, geography may have come to mind. Google Expeditions has lessons in which students can explore some of the world’s most historic and beautiful natural features as well as some of the different terrains and structures people have built. In the ‘Famous Landmarks Around the World’ expedition, students are taken to a number of historical landmarks that have been around for centuries in some cases or less than 100 years in others. These include the Colosseum in Rome, the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the Atomium in Brussels, the Hollywood sign in California, the Arch in St. Louis, and the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona. Students will also learn about what makes something a landmark, including those that are formed naturally or constructed by humans and how they enable us to identify a location by sight alone.
In a more general sense, Google Expeditions also provides content for students to learn about the geography of different continents and countries around the world. With 13 expeditions in total dedicated to geography alone, teachers could spend an entire quarter (or at least a few weeks) introducing their students to the various geographical features the world has to offer or just showing them the amazing images they’ll see on Google Expeditions. The different expeditions include the Geography of Africa, Geography of Australia, Geography of Canada, Geography of China, Geography of Mexico, Geography of Russia, Geography of South America, Geography of Southwest Asia, Geography of the Indian Subcontinent, Geography of the Poles, and Geography of the United States. This is also a useful set of lessons for teachers who have students with different heritages as it can be used to give them a glimpse into what the geography is like in different parts of the world.
Then, there’s the Google Earth World Tour expedition. Since Google Expeditions and Google Earth are both obviously made by Google, it makes sense that students would have access to Google Earth when using their VR kits. If you’ve never experienced Google Earth in virtual reality, trust us, you really should try it. It is truly something else. Anyway, in the Google Earth expedition, students are flown over tons of the world’s most iconic geographical features, including the North Atlantic Ocean, Mount Everest, Canyonlands National Park, and even the Sun. Students will learn about what makes Earth such a special place and why, even at over 4.5 billion years old, it continues to provide so many resources and such beauty. They’ll also learn a bit about how, thanks to satellites, we can now view Earth from space (which is how Google Earth works). With tons of jaw-dropping content displayed in virtual reality, students will love learning about geography with Google Expeditions!
Exploring the Ocean
It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Google Expeditions also features immersive content that takes students deep down into the oceans as well. There are three particular expeditions that are great for learning about life under the sea and the first of those is called ‘Life Deep in the Ocean.’ This expedition covers the different depth levels of the ocean and is broken down into six sections that start near the surface and extend to the deepest depths. They include looks at the Mesopelagic Zone, the Bathyal Zone, the Abyssal Zone, the Hadal Zone, the Mariana Trench, and, finally, Deep Sea Exploration. Students will get to learn about how deep sea animals are able to survive at such extreme depths despite the high pressure and low visibility. Although the world being covered by almost 95 percent ocean water, we’ve only explored about five percent of it. Using this expedition, however, students can travel to places they otherwise would never be able to reach and bring scientific learning alive right before their eyes.
In the ‘Giants of the Sea’ expedition, students will stay underwater, but learn more about the different animals and species that live below the ocean’s surface—particularly those that are rather large. The different sections of this expedition offer looks at four of the largest animals: The sperm whale, giant squid, blue whale, and giant clam. And, the final section of this expedition is dedicated to having students learn about some of the dangers that these animals face. Throughout this journey, students will get the chance to explore what the habitat of these animals is like and even catch a glimpse of what these giant creatures do towards the bottom of the ocean. Most importantly, students are able to gain brand-new perspectives both in terms of the incredibly deep views they will experience and how they think about life deep down in the ocean.
The final deep sea expedition puts students in the chamber of a submarine. They’ll feel like they’re driving and steering the underwater vehicle while learning all about the interior of the sub and how it’s able to be submerged deep into the ocean. Diving deeper, students will also see what surface vessel operations are like and learn about safety when it comes to submarine expeditions. Finally, they’ll learn more about the deep sea environment and why scientists often need to rely on submarines in order to explore these areas. Students will join a real submarine crew and see what it’s like to be a part of a real underwater mission. The subs in the lessons can go to depths of about 1,000 feet and have life support systems that allow people to stay down there for up to 96 straight hours! Students will conclude the expedition by learning about the technology involved in submarine use and gain a new understanding of life below the surface.
Some More Historical Favorites
History classes are definitely among the best opportunities for using VR in education—at least in the K-12 grades. In college courses, virtual reality could be used to simulate a number of actions, like surgeries, for example, but we’ll let somebody else talk about that as we are not experts in that niche. In K-12 history classes, students are often learning about some of the most significant eras, events, and areas of modern history. And, one of the most well-known and historical sites in the world is Stonehenge. The Stonehenge expedition includes six parts, which are comprised of Stonehenge, Raising Stonehenge, The Purpose of Stonehenge—Astrological Calendar, The Purpose of Stonehenge—Burial, Sacrifice, and Healing, The Purpose of Stonehenge—Acoustic Temple, and Stonehenge Today. On its own, Stonehenge is a pretty amazing site to behold, but this expedition will also help students to better understand the significance of its construction some 5,000 years ago.
Another one of world’s most wondrous features is the Taj Mahal. Most children will not get to travel there in their lifetimes—at least not for a number of years, but Google Expeditions can take them there easily. This expedition details both the origins and architecture of this marvelous structure with lesson plans that highlight its symmetry and who preserves its wonder among other things. The 5-part expedition is broken up into the following sections: The Great Gateway, The Mausoleum and Surroundings, West of the Tomb, East of the Tomb, and North of the Tomb. Set in India, students also get to see the beautiful scenery surrounding the Taj Mahal and teachers could even mention some of the geographical features as well if they would like. The Taj Mahal has been standing for almost 500 years and was built for the purpose of housing the tomb of an emperor’s favorite wife. Throughout the expedition, students will learn other important facts as well as interesting nuggets about the Taj Mahal and its beauty.
We’ve traveled around the world a bunch, but, of course, there is plenty of amazing history in the United States as well. There are a couple of expeditions that detail the events of the American Revolution, undoubtedly one of the most compelling and important events in our country’s history. There is an expedition called The American Revolution Begins in which the key events that ultimately triggered America’s separation from Britain are highlighted, including the Minutemen, Paul Revere’s midnight ride, the Battle of Lexington, and the fight at the Old North Bridge. Then, there is an expedition called The American Revolution through the Eyes of Hamilton—something that may be interesting to students in a day and age in which Hamilton has been brought to life on stage and captivated so many people. In these two expeditions, students will learn about what happened in Lexington and Concord, Mass. on April 19, 1775 and how the revolution provided Hamilton with an opportunity to excel. They’ll be transported straight to the heart of the Revolution and enjoy a first-hand look at how the United States got its start!
Extreme Ecosystems
We’ll end this exploratory blog post with some suggestions for using Google Expeditions for exploring some of the world’s most fascinating ecosystems. Now, there are hundreds of different expeditions that students could take part in within the Google Expeditions library and many of those do highlight the different ecosystems the world has to offer, but these final suggestions are some of our favorites. We’ll start in the U.S. with the Florida Everglades. Despite appearing to be a swampy wasteland so dense that it would be impossible to navigate, the Everglades are actually home to a number of species, including alligators, iguanas, and other reptiles. What students might not know, however, is that a number of the species that live there are protected or endangered. They’ll learn about how the National Parks Service protects the diversity of life in these wetlands and about the nine distinct ecosystems found there.
Another place with a fascinating set of ecosystems is the country and continent of Australia. Aside from being the world’s largest island, Australia is home to deserts, cities, and incredible ocean life—namely the Great Barrier Reef. Australia is also the world’s largest island and is home to the Outback Desert and thousands of miles of beautiful coastline, providing habitats for tons of different species, like kangaroos and koala bears. Students will learn about how some of the animals that inhabit Australia were shaped by millions of years of isolation and are now found no place else on Earth. The expedition also highlights city life in Australia, including a look at the beautiful city of Sydney and its world famous opera house. With such a drastic mix of cities, deserts, and more, Australia is one of the most diverse places in the world and students will see why.
The final expedition we’d like to recommend is a fascinating one called ‘Survival in Extreme Ecosystems,’ Obviously, the world is home to tons of extreme ecosystems, like the Sahara Desert and Arctic Circle, but the two ecosystems addressed in this expedition are unlike any other. They are the Uzon Caldera in Russia and Atacama Desert in Chile. The Uzon Caldera is located almost in the easternmost part of Russia, pretty much North of Japan. Here, the ecosystems include coastal forests, marshes, alpine tundra, and mountainous forests. Among the wildlife that live in this extreme ecosystem are brown bears, reindeer, sea otters, and hundreds of different kinds of birds. On the other hand, the Atacama Desert is located on the Pacific Coast of Chile, west of the Andes Mountains. It is the driest place on Earth and the only true desert to receive less precipitation than polar deserts. Among the few species that live there are mice, foxes, lizards, rodents, and scorpions. To learn more about our fascinating modern and historical world, check out Google Expeditions—available in 10, 20, and 30-student kits on our store!
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UPDATE: We've recently selected a potential hardware alternative for Google Expeditions kits. The RobotLAB VR Expeditions 2.0 kits are now available on our store. They include VR bundles with materials for 10, 20, or 30 students as well as a similar platform that educators used with Google Expeditions. Educators can bring students on over 700 immersive Expeditions, virtual field trips, and more using the Expeditions 2.0 mobile app. Click to explore our current list of RobotLAB VR Expeditions 2.0 offerings.