US Mint
Symbols in My Eyes
Explore the hidden meanings behind the images on US currency with this elementary school lesson on symbolism. Starting with a class discussion about symbols, children go on to brainstorm different objects that represent the Unites States...
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Maps and Globes
First graders complete a unit on map skills and the globe. They label maps, create a styrofoam ball globe, create a map of their community, sing a continent song, and complete a map and globe assessment worksheet.
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As the Kids Come and Go: Mapping a Classroom
Map the classroom with your kids to help them understand how maps work and how to read them. The lesson starts off with a story about animals living and moving around the globe, and then kids create maps of their classroom to show how...
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Mapping Your Way Around
First graders identify a map, symbols on a map, and locate places on a map. Finally, they construct a map
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Learning to Read a Map
First graders identify the map and globe symbols: Cardinal Directions; Compass Rose; Mountains; Rivers; Lakes; Towns; Roads.
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Learning to Read a Regional Map
Students locate the local community, surrounding communities and major geographic features of the SE Utah and the Four-Corners region on a map, after receiving direct instruction.
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We're Gonna Have A Party
First graders explore map skills. They discuss the map vocabulary and use directions to find a location on a map. Students discuss and use the components of a map to answer a variety of questions. They use the map and directions to find...
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Map It Out
Explore how illustrations add to a story. Young learners will look at picture books to see how the pictures tell the story. They create illustrations to go with a chosen story, and then flip the activity so they have to write a story to...
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MAP UNIT
First graders investigate how maps are used to identify different locations. They will also appreciate how there are different types of maps for their purposes. Finally students study how maps contain symbols that represent real places.
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Teaching the Five Themes of Geography Through Picture Books
Read the story Make Way for Ducklings and introduce little ones to the five themes of geography. Reread the story, while displaying transparencies to reinforce the five themes. In groups, learners view pictures and identify the themes on...
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Spatial Connections
Students use maps, scales, and describe locations in order to learn about spatial sense. In this spatial sense lesson plan, students participate in many activities for this spatial sense unit that should last throughout the year.
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Where in the World Am I?
Students participate in mapping activities to explore an area from different spatial perspectives. In this mapping lesson, students define the terms needed to understand a map. Students use representations such as a balloon and a...
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Expanding Map Vocabulary
First graders name the vocabulary words in Navajo, Ute and Spanish for the cardinal directions.
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Mapmaking: Colorado Quarter Reverse
Students examine the Colorado quarter reverse and draw symbols of the state's land and water features on maps. Using copies of the Colorado reverse, they color the coin design. They list reasons for the state's motto of "Colorful Colorado"
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The 1:1 Transition: What to Read Before You Implement
Capitalize on the wisdom, experience, and recommendations of those who have blazed the 1:1 trail.
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Other kinds of groups- part 4 of 5
Students compare and contrast characteristics of groups. Students create graphs using various symbols of different groups. Students make maps of their neighborhood 'groups'.
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Mural Mania
Students create a mural that displays symbols for their home state. They complete worksheets and read a book about their state. They collect images of the state flower, tree and bird for the mural. There are 5 other lesson plans included...
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Celebrate You
First graders locate place of birth on a map. They identify their birthdays and place a graphing square with their birthday written on it under the corresponding month. They compare birthdays on the graph. They read "P.B. Bear's Birthday...
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The Pink Pig
Students identify the short /i/ sound in spoken words and the letter symbol in this lesson. They say a tongue twister emphasizing words with the short /i/ sound. They then read the story "Liz is Six" and identify the words with the...
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Ch Ch Ch Ch ....Here Comes the Train!
Students complete a variety of activities related to the digraph /ch/. As a class they recite a tongue twister, then listen to different words and identify the words containing /ch/. Students then listen to the book "Chicka Chicka Boom...
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Weather and Climate
Students identify the words plain and climate and discuss what would happen if it never rained. Students identify and interpret the weather in Poland and create a web illustrating various weather patterns. Students write a 4-line poem...
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Go Fish
Students recognize the short vowel a in written and spoken language. Through matching activities, they discriminate the short vowel /a/ from other vowel phonemes. Students associate the phoneme with its letter representation in a story...