My Maps Tutorials

  • Google's Free Map Creator
  • Create and view them at http://mymaps.google.com
  • Add custom pins, layers, directions, and distances
  • Maps can then be shared just like Google Docs and edited past multiple users simultaneously
  • Maps can even exist made "public", where anyone in the globe tin have access to it.
  • Add images, videos, and/or paragraphs to each placemark or polygon.
  • Looking for some ways to use this tool in your classroom? Click here.
  • All of the videos below are bachelor on this playlist (click).

How to Create a Google My Map

  • Create in Google Bulldoze OR at http://mymaps.google.com
  • If a file is created in Google Drive, it can exist placed in a shared folder for students.
  • MyMaps.google.com contains all of the My Maps y'all've created and those that have been shared with you.

Adding Placemarks to a Google My Map

  • Placemarks help bear witness where certain events occurred.
  • Can exist added manually (using the bill of fare at the peak of the map) OR by searching for a location and and then adding it to your map.
  • Placemarks can besides incorporate text, images, and videos (from either Youtube or Google Drive).
  • They tin also be stylized to assist add together more meaning to your My Map.

Sharing and Collaborating on a My Map

  • My Maps can be collaborated on past students and teachers.
  • Press the SHARE push in the tiptop left.
  • Y'all can share the map with "Specific people", make it where "Anyone with the link" can view/edit it, or brand it "Public on the spider web."
  • Important: to encounter changes collaborators make, the folio must be refreshed.

Drawing Polygons and Lines

  • 2D polygons and lines tin be drawn on a My Map
  • Lines testify distance between points as the crow files.
  • Polygons show area of a location, state, province, or continent.
  • Classroom idea: "Okay class, today we're going to determine the area of our school..."
  • Measurements are shown in either kilometers or miles (depending on which state you live).

  • Placemarks and polygons can have multiples images and videos added on to them for a user to interact with.
  • Images can be uploaded, taken by the web camera, added from Google Bulldoze or a URL, added from Google Photos, or from a Google Image Search.
  • Videos can added from a Youtube search or a Youtube URL.

  • Placemarks tin can exist stylized by becoming different icons and colors.
  • Edit your Placemark by selecting it, so clicking the pencil.
  • The color and image on it tin be changed.
  • Hundreds of icons to select from; they're searchable, besides.
  • You can upload your own custom icon, too!

  • Demand to sort/filter your locations in different groups?
  • Add a layer by clicking the "Add a Layer" push in the top left.
  • Layers can have uniform, a sequence of numbers or individual styles.
  • Layers can have labels for different placemarks and polygons turned on.
  • Tin can consign individual layers as KML/KMZ to view in Google Earth.

  • There are 9 different base maps that can exist displayed on a My Map.
  • Satellite, Terrain, Political, and Atlas, to name a few.
  • Choose a Base map which helps a user empathize the information on your map the clearest.

  • This sets the field of view which appears someday a user opens your Map.
  • In other words, information technology makes your students see a certain part of the map kickoff.
  • Too works for public My Maps in the "View only" mode.

Reorganizing Placemarks and Polygons

  • Trying to testify data chronologically on your map?
  • Any placemarks on the map key can exist clicked and dragged effectually to reorder.
  • They can also be dragged between layers.

  • Used to measure distances (in kilometers and miles) between multiple points equally the crow flies.
  • Click the ruler upwardly the tiptop to enable to tool
  • Measure perimeter and area by creating polygons.
  • Smaller areas are shown in acres, not foursquare miles.

  • KML/KMZ Files tin be plant online or created and uploaded onto a Google My Map.
  • Here's a direct download link to one for you to do uploading with (click).
  • Printing the "Import" push button which appears below each new layer
  • Upload the KML from Google Bulldoze or your computer

Viewing a My Map on Google Earth

  • Want to display your My Map in a much more than cute way?
  • Consign your My Map as a KML/KMZ file (use a KMZ if you create custom icons)
  • Head to earth.google.com (it's the new Google Earth)
  • Import your KML/KMZ onto Google Earth.
  • Each layer becomes its own folder in the KML file
  • Images and videos transfer, also!
  • Want to learn more well-nigh the new Google Earth? Cheque out my other page (click).

  • Large data sets imported from a Google Canvass can exist viewed and edited on the Data Fix table.
  • While it doesn't accept the same functionality as a Google Sail, it nonetheless is a quick way to edit/view whatsoever information on the My Map.
  • Tin remove rows/columns in one brutal swoop.

Stylizing a Map past a Data Set Column

  • Have multiple placemarks displaying data on a layer and desire to make the more visual?
  • Alter to "Style past data column" and sort your data into "Ranges".
  • I recommend using single color ranges and not the total spectrum.

  • Want to create a map from images in a Google Photos anthology?
  • Create a new layer and click "Import".
  • Click "Photo album" and select the ones you lot'd similar to add onto your My Map.
  • Press select, and the images become Placemarks on your My Map.
  • Note: this does not piece of work with videos... all the same.

  • At http://mymaps.google.com you can explore vetted My Maps that are approved by Google.
  • They're not filterable, but in that location are about 50 or so that you and your students can view.
  • Open up them upward, press the iii dots, an you can copy the map to your Google Drive.

Creating a Map from a Google Canvass

  • A My Map can be created from different columns on a Google Sheet.
  • Create a new layer, printing "Import" and find the Canvas/CSV y'all want to brandish on your map.
  • Each Google Sheet cavalcade header becomes a different section on each Placemark
  • Here's a sample Google Sheet you can utilise to practice uploading your ain (click).
  • The Data Table is also created from the Google Sheet.

Assigning Maps in Google Classroom

  • Brand your My Map where "Anyone with the link can view".
  • Identify instructions for the chore/consignment on a Placemark.
  • Attach the link to your "My Map" every bit a Resource onto your Google Classroom assignment.
  • Students open up the My Map, press the "Iii Dots", and then "Make a Copy"
  • Students can then add their My Map from their Drive onto the consignment.

Opening a My Map in Google Maps

  • Want to quickly display whatsoever maps you've created on Google Maps?
  • Press the Google Maps menu button (three lines), select "My Places", and then "Maps".
  • Click the My Map you desire to open, and it'll announced on your screen (including any polygons and placemarks).

Embedding a Map on a Google Site

  • Want your My Map to appear on your Google Site or grade blog? There are two ways to do this.
  • You can click the three dots on a My Map and select "Embed on my site" to notice the HTML code. This lawmaking can be pasted on your website/weblog.
  • If you accept a new Google Site, click "Insert", the "Map", the "My Maps" to find the ane you want to embed.
  • Modify the dimensions to best fit on your Google Site.

Adding Driving Directions

  • Going on a Field Trip as a class and want to show your chaperones how to go there?
  • Create a My Maps layer with all the different locations your form volition exist going.
  • Press "Driving Directions" from the bar going beyond the top; this will add a new layer to your My Map.
  • You can detect directions between Placemarks or whatever address.