Objective:
Students will explore global locations using Google Earth, stopping when they find a geographic theme from the current unit (e.g., population density, urbanization, migration patterns).

Materials:

• Google Earth
• Computer/laptop
• Note-taking template for themes

Activity:
Begin by introducing Natasha Gupta’s TikTok exploration method and how students will use a similar approach to identify geographic themes.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/natasha-gupta-explores-world-google-earth-ugly/index.html

Demonstrate the process by randomly dropping a pin and identifying a theme from the current unit.

Students will then explore different locations around the world using Google Earth. When they encounter a specific geographic theme, they will stop, take a screenshot, and record their observations. The documentation should include the location, the identified theme, and an explanation of how the scene represents the theme.

In a class discussion, students will share one of their findings and explain the theme they identified. Encourage them to connect their findings to broader geographic concepts discussed in class. This activity fosters critical thinking as students apply geographic concepts in a virtual, visual context.

Themes to Focus On:

• Population density and distribution
• Migration and mobility patterns
• Urbanization and rural landscapes
• Agricultural practices
• Industrialization and development

Assessment:
Students will submit screenshots and explanations of the themes they found for grading, focusing on how well they identified and analyzed geographic themes in their virtual exploration.

Extension Activity:
Encourage students to research the real-world context of the locations they explored to deepen their understanding of the geographic themes identified. Alternatively, they could compare their virtual findings with data from real-world field studies. 

You can also spend time critiquing Gupta’s project and explore what kind of geographical imagination is produced by rating landscapes and places either ugly or not ugly.  To help spark debate, read the Ugly Geographies opinion piece on The Geographical Imaginations Expedition & Institute website.