Virtual Field Trip: Grand Canyon
3 mins read

Virtual Field Trip: Grand Canyon

Ready to travel? To virtually explore the world? Hop on board for a virtual field trip to the Grand Canyon in Arizona!

The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is considered “to be the most extensive and impressive erosional canyon on the earth. With an average depth of more than 1,675 meters below the North Rim (1,375 meters below the South Rim) and a length of 350 kilometers, Grand Canyon is a feature that is readily identified even from outer space.” (Grand Canyon. By: Best, David M., Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science, 2017)

Use our EBSCO Discovery Service search box on the main library website to read more about the history and features of the Grand Canyon. This includes a Research Starter and links to various library resources which reference the Grand Canyon.

See our video tutorial on using Google Maps to explore the Grand Canyon. Below is the process step-by-step, additional activities and library resources.


Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Google “Grand Canyon.” Click on the Map view.
  2. Zoom in close to the site and pick up the street view tool and select a location to drop.
  3. Explore by clicking on the arrows and x’s to virtually explore. Use the back arrow at top left to go back to the map and drop street view tool again in another part of the site.

Guided Activities

1. Below is a map of the United States, your task is to locate, color or outline, and label the following rivers, mountains and parks. If you need assistance, our databases are here to help!

  1. The Colorado River
  2. The Mississippi River
  3. The Rocky Mountain Range
  4. The Appalachian Mountain Range
  5. The Grand Canyon National Park
  6. Yellowstone National Park
  7. The Red River
  8. Can you also name the states?

2. In an effort to rehabilitate the condor population, condors are known to fly around the park. If you are interested in seeing these birds, the San Diego Zoo has a condor cam set up to get a bird’s eye view of these majestic birds. Now it is your turn to become a park ranger and adventure outside for some bird watching! Make notes of the all the birds you see and hear. Then, use the Audubon Bird Guide App to determine what birds call Texas home.

3. The Grand Canyon is made up of many layers of stones and rocks. Learn more about the layers and types of rock by using this interactive map.


Continue Learning

Your library has a plethora of books and databases for your to use to learn more about the Grand Canyon. You will need a Plano Public Library card to use these resources:

The Promise of the Grand Canyon: John Wesley Powell’s Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West by John F. Ross

Where Is the Grand Canyon? by Jim O’Connor

Best Easy Day Hikes Grand Canyon National Park by Ron Adkinson

Fodor’s the Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West with the Best Scenic Road Trips

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