Teaching the Renaissance? Take a (virtual) field trip to the Sistine Chapel!

I love teaching about the Renaissance. One way to get my students interested and STAY interested in this topic, is to take virtual field trips using Google Earth (Internet access required and only works on some devices like Chromebooks). If you cannot access Google Earth, use the Vatican's virtual tours link. Have students "wander" around in the museum for ten minutes and then have them write a short response of what it was like in the Sistine Chapel. They can also take screen shots of their favorite artwork and try to find the painter/ sculpture and write a brief biography.