Satellite images in class - see things that others can't

Why teach with satellite images?
Teaching with satellite images offers a powerful way to engage students across various subjects, and at differing levels:

Basic introduction to satellite imagery (primary):

Natural Features
Rivers and Lakes: Point out winding rivers and blue water bodies.
Mountains and Hills: Show raised areas and how shadows indicate elevation.
Forests and Deserts: Differentiate green areas from sandy or brown regions.
Oceans and Coastlines: Teach about land-water boundaries and island shapes.

Man-Made Features
Cities and Towns: Spot clusters of buildings, roads, and lights in nighttime images.
Roads and Bridges: Identify major highways and transportation networks.
Farms and Fields: Recognize patchwork patterns of agricultural land.

Weather & Environment
Cloud Patterns: Observe cloud shapes, storms, or hurricanes.
Seasonal Changes: Compare images from different times of the year to show snow cover, vegetation growth, or changes in water levels.

Human and Animal Impact
Deforestation Areas: Show before-and-after views of forest loss.
Wildlife Habitats: Highlight large green regions like jungles or national parks.

Simple Skills Development
Colour Matching: Match colours in the image with land types (e.g., green = forest, blue = water).
Shape Recognition: Identify shapes of countries, islands, or large landmarks.
Basic Mapping: Introduce direction (north, south, etc.) and simple scale.

For more advanced learners (secondary and HE):

Geography & Earth Sciences
Landform Identification: Teach students to recognize mountains, valleys, rivers, and other physical features.
Climate Studies: Analyse patterns such as vegetation cover, snow, and desertification.
Natural Disasters: Observe the effects of hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and earthquakes over time.

Urban Planning & Human Geography
Urban Growth: Track city expansion and infrastructure development.
Land Use Change: Explore how agriculture, deforestation, and industrialization alter landscapes.
Population Distribution: Correlate urban density and settlement patterns with satellite imagery.

Environmental Science
Deforestation & Reforestation: Monitor forest cover changes over time.
Pollution Tracking: Study the spread of oil spills, algal blooms, or smog.
Biodiversity Mapping: Examine habitats and ecosystems at regional or global scales.

Maths & Data Interpretation
Scale & Measurement: Use images to teach distance, area, and perimeter calculations.
Graphing & Analysis: Interpret image data through graphs and change detection over time.

Computing, Technology & Remote Sensing
GIS & Mapping Skills: Introduce Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data analysis.
Remote Sensing Concepts: Teach how satellites collect and transmit data, including different types of imagery (e.g., infrared, multispectral).

Climate Change & Global Issues
Glacier Retreat & Sea Level Rise: Visualize long-term environmental changes.
Carbon Footprint Analysis: Relate land use and urbanisation to carbon emissions.
Global Monitoring: Understand satellite contributions to tracking worldwide climate phenomena