TerraFly
"Virtually 'fly' over the entire U.S."
GRADE LEVEL: 6-12, Advanced
http://terrafly.fiu.edu/
CONTENT:
TerraFly is a huge database of digital aerial and satellite images of the entire United States provided by the U.S. Geological Survey.
AESTHETICS:
This high-tech site is not for the faint of bandwidth. Download times can be significant on a dial-up connection. A Java-enable browser is required.
ORGANIZATION:
The site is user-friendly with a simple form where users can type in an address, a ZIP code, or a city in the United States and see the aerial view displayed.
REVIEW:
TerraFly claims to "change the way you view your world," and that it does. The site has a satellite link that serves up images of Earth close enough to see city streets and parks. Users can type in any U.S. address, ZIP code, or city and state to take a virtual flyover. The controls allow you to zoom, change fly frames directionally, and apply exact coordinates to zero in on a specific place or street. Teachers could have students download maps of their area to print and use to practice their mapping skills.
