So now that you can navigate the planet, why not start by zooming in on your own  little corner of it. For fun, tell your students that your classroom has been transformed into a Space Shuttle: You are cruising far above the earth's atmosphere and you are going to locate your school! (By default GE starts you out at an altitude of about 11,000 kilometers [~ 7,000 miles], but you can zoom out to about 64,000 kilometers [~ 40,000 miles] -- see the actual figure at the bottom right of the viewer). Once you do, see what other familiar sites you can locate in your town -- and then your state/province and country. (It's simple -- but a powerful way to help your students better understand their world!)

A school campus in Albany, NY, USA -- as viewed in Google Earth.