Geography Concepts Teacher Resources

Students explore the states of water. In this science lesson plan, students use observation, measurement, and communication skills to describe water as it changes from a solid to a liquid.

Students examine the causes of earthquakes, volcanoes, and floods, and explore how these events shape the surface of the earth. In this erupting volcanoes instructional activity, students create a volcano model of their own, make...

Students create cartograms of populations during 1790.

Students investigate a variety of maps to explain what each one is used for.

Learners brainstorm a list of the different types of maps they have seen or used. Using the activity sheet, they look through a social studies book to find all the maps and to determine what they are used for. Using a poster, they review...

First graders read and discuss several stories. They share information about different types of shelter around the world. They explain that lifestyles and shelter depend very much on where people live and how they use the resources...

Sixth graders are introduced to the concepts of a compass rose and how it used in relationship to reading maps in geography. The lesson is meant to build upon prior knowledge and skills.

Fourth graders make a drawing of a town along a river off of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Upon completion, they give an oral description of their town, including its houses, stores, businesses, farm area, government, etc., and will...

Students examine how to save and protect trees.  In this conservation lesson plan, students read books about the usefulness of trees, write ideas in their journals about how trees can be used, and make a book of ways to protect trees.

Eighth graders find a current event related to the Middle East. In this current event lesson students write a brief summary of a new story related to the Middle East. They give their opinion and tell how it affects their life or who it...

Learners explore the concept of philanthropy. In this abolition lesson, students watch "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and discuss the philanthropic acts they witnessed in the film. Learners also complete an activity that requires them to determine...

Students recognize the difference between the city and the country. In this City Mouse, Country Mouse lesson, students listen to a story and describe and map differences between the city and the country. Students understand that people...

Students examine the purpose of education.  In this schooling lesson, students read a letter from a child in Uzbekistan. Students compare and contrast their schooling to children around the world.

Students explore cartography.  In this map skills and map making lesson, Students work in groups to create wall size world maps including legends, compass roses, latitude and longitude, and physical features.  Students collect...

Young scholars analyze data on air pollution in Maryland. They evaluate the effectiveness of government actions to improve air quality. Each group recommends actions that would improve air quality on the federal, state and local level.

Fifth graders investigate agricultural sources. In this agricultural lesson, 5th graders read the book Have a Hamburger and See the U.S.A. and record each component of a hamburger. Students use a map of the U.S.A. to locate the...

Students explore global geography by participating in an atlas activity. In this countries of the world instructional activity, students collaborate in small groups and analyze an atlas while researching continents, countries and...

Students determine what factors identify a country's political borders. After reading an article, they investigate questions surrounding the Great Rift Valley. On a map, they trace the valley from Asia through Africa and research the...

Middle schoolers investigate the geography of Africa.  In this African culture lesson, students research the lifestyles of African residents and create a PowerPoint presentation based on a single African country.  Middle...

Learners research the  importance of ancient Rome to the world today.  In this ancient Rome instructional activity, students view video and research to gather information for a slide show about Ancient Rome. 

Students read and examine the novel On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer. They choose to complete a variety of intriguing assignments on this novel. Critical thinking skills are intertwined throughout this lesson.

Students read a story.  For this vocabulary skills lesson, students read The Gingerbread Man, use flannel cut outs to re-enact the gingerbread man running over and under.

Pupils analyze the story Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain geographically, and explain the term climate and discuss its relevance in the story as well as to their own lives.

Students identify and analyze map symbols and map grids by completing various worksheets and creating their own map using these skills. Students identify and analyze what latitude and longitude are on a map to play a game of Bingo....