West Virginia Department of Education
A State of Convenience: The Creation of West Virginia
Ever wondered why there is a West Virginia but not an East Virginia? The resource answers questions like this one and more as it takes an in-depth and detailed look at the history of West Virginia and how it became a state. Several...
National Geographic
Mapping the Americas
Celebrate the geography of the Americas and develop map skills through a series of activities focused on the Western Hemisphere. Learners study everything from earthquakes and volcanoes of the Americas and the relationship between...
Curated OER
States and Capitals, Mountains and Rivers
Students identify geographical locations in the midwestern United States. In this geography instructional activity, students identify 12 states and capitals and geographical features in the region by using U.S. maps. Students use blank...
Curated OER
Plotting a Hurricane Using Latitude and Longitude
Learners define and use "absolute location," latitude, and longitude. They locate on a map or globe the Earth's poles, circles, tropics, and beginning points of measurements for latitude and longitude.
Curated OER
Globe Lesson 17 - Alaska and Hawaii - Grade 4-5
Young scholars develop their globe skills. In this geography skills instructional activity, students explore the area added to the United States when the Alaskan territory was purchased from Russia.
Curated OER
The Rise of the City States in Greece
Sixth graders examine Ancient Greece and its development of democracy. In this Greek History lesson plan, 6th graders explore the rise of city-states in Greece and its overall effect on the development of democracy. The class continues...
Curated OER
Migration of the African American Family
Students investigate the influence Africa has had on African-American families as they have migrated from Africa to various sections of the United States. They utilize map skills to locate regions in Africa and in the United States.
Curated OER
Number the Stars
Students read Number the Stars. In this social studies lesson, students read the story and use a map of western Europe and identify the countries involved in the war. Students locate the cities of Denmark that are discussed in the story.
Curated OER
Globe Skills Lesson 4 The Colonial Period
Students practice their map skills. In this Colonial geography lesson, students complete an activity that requires them to locate English colonial locations using latitude and longitude coordinates.
Curated OER
An Early American Culture
Young scholars identify the locations of the Hopewell culture. In this map skills lesson plan, students use a globe to mark several locations of the Hopewell culture.
Curated OER
NATO Geography & Language
The class receives background information on NATO, an atlas, and a blank world map. They color the original 1949 countries in red, the 1952 additions in green, and the 1990 additions in blue. This exercise would be a good starting point...
Curated OER
Geography: Why Is the Sacremento Valley a Good Place to Grow Rice?
Third graders locate the Sacramento Valley in California where rice is grown. In this rice growing location lesson, 3rd graders locate the Sacremento Valley, California on a map, and color the mountain ranges and terrain that is around...
Curated OER
The Slave Trade
Students map and explore a possible slave trade route. For this slave trade mapping lesson, students calculate the distance and amount of time it would take for African slaves to arrive in America.
Curated OER
Science: Rock On!
Fourth graders explore the traits of rocks and minerals in their local area. After creating a rock and mineral legend, they color maps based on their legends. Once students examine rock and mineral specimens, they draw pictures of them.
Curated OER
Pictures of the Berlin Airlift: Primary Sources (Photos and Cartoons) to Motivate Learning
Tenth graders describe cartoons and photos from the Berlin Airlift and put them into a historical context. After a lecture/demo, each pair of students be asked to describe what they see in the photos. They then write a caption for each...