An announcement from Google on May 9.

Today, we’re making it possible for you to go back in time and get a stunning historical perspective on the changes to the Earth’s surface over time. Working with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), NASA and TIME, we’re releasing more than a quarter-century of images of Earth taken from space, compiled for the first time into an interactive time-lapse experience. We believe this is the most comprehensive picture of our changing planet ever made available to the public.  [article link]

Check out some of their animated GIFs of Earth over time and explore different views into this global timelapse built from global, annual composites of Landsat satellite images beginning as early as 1984.  I can see this tool being used effectively in courses even beyond geology and/or geography.