Google Earth is a free online software that provides a virtual view of Earth. Using Google Earth, students can view Earth by hovering over features and locations they preselect or by serendipitously exploring locations that catch their fascination. Going beyond hovering, they can swoop forward and even tilt images to make more detailed observations of the features they find most interesting. This article presents a lesson plan in which students use Google Earth to: (1) learn basic navigation skills to effectively view images; (2) learn ways to determine distance measurements, elevations, and coordinate locations; (3) locate and analyze images based on personal research choices; and (4) share findings from their research with the class. The lesson described in this article is centered on the analysis of geologic features and environmental impacts. (Contains 5 figures.)