Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scaling it Down: Caves Have Maps, Too

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Measurement and map skills are the focus of this lesson, where students crawl through a "cave" made out of boxes, desks and chairs, observing the dimensions.  Your young geographers measure various aspects of the cave and practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Use Google Maps to Teach Math

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Capture the engagement of young mathematicians with this upper-elementary math lesson on measuring time and distance. Using Google Maps, students first measure and compare the distance and time it takes to travel between different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Math and Measurement

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Engage the class in exploring linear measurement and map scales. They work in groups to measure various distances in the classroom and convert measurements to other units as directed by the teacher. To access this Word document, click on...
Lesson Plan
Civil War Trust

Map the Civil War

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
Mapmaking was a very important element in successfully planning attacks on enemies during the Civil War. Guide pupils through the process of pacing to find the average length of their steps, measure the distance between one object...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Field Mapping with a Compass and Pace

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students practice using compass and calibrate their own pace, take field measurements of pre-set course with compass and pace, convert measurements into map, using angles and vectors, and make composite class map by adjusting different...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the Bone Field: An Area and Scale Exercise

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Here is an excellent cross-curricular lesson. Learners relate multiplication to area by making a grid on graph paper, and then creating the same grid in real space outside in the school yard.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: Using Maps and Scales to Get to the Basketball Hall of Fame

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students view a quicktime video of basketball players going from Atlanta to Springfield, Mass. In this scaling lesson, students use a map to calculate the distance of the trip and the length of travel time. Students apply ratio and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balancing the Scales: Understanding Ratios

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the concept of ratios. In groups, they convert sets of numbers into a ratio. After practicing, they use the ratios and proportions to solve story problems. They also calculate map distances and discover map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Johnny Appleseed Walkabout

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders calculate mileage for a journey. In this place value and measurement lesson, 2nd graders read Johnny Appleseed, work in groups to locate his birthplace on a map, locate the other states he stopped in, and measure the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale Drawings

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars discuss the importance of scaling drawings. In this math lesson, students create a scaled drawing of circuit boards. They explain why accuracy is very important when scaling.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students apply concepts of scales to solve problems. In this geometry lesson, students solve real world problems using scales, proportions and ratios. They predict the actual size of a model given the scale drawings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale factors: Ratios and Proportions

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Pupils create building and models using scale factors. In this geometry lesson plan, students apply the properties of ratio and proportion to solve problems. They identify the means and extremes property of cross multiplication.
Lesson Plan
Edgate

Great Grids

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners use grid boxes as a measurement tool and discover how grids are used for mapmaking and scaling down an area. They begin by attempting to draw a model shape drawn by the teacher by using the gridding process. At the conclusion of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Math and Measurement

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students use the correct tool to measure distances. In this geometry lesson, students use an odometer and ruler correctly as they study maps. They describe how far way something is.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Separate Vacations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers plot the migration paths of birds using latitude and longitude data from a table.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coordinate Grid: Mapping Archeological Sites

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover how to apply the Cartesian coordinate system by figuring out the length and width of their school playground. They determine that pacing is an important tool for the initial mapping of a site. Students conduct a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading distance on maps

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders complete worksheets on reading the distance on maps in miles or kilometers. In this maps lesson plan, 8th graders use a calculator and ruler.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping with a Compass: A Simulated Survey

For Teachers 4th
Students use compasses and grids to map the locations of artifacts found in a simulated dig site. In groups, they role-play as future archeologists excavating a school site. Groups begin at their assigned datum and site the artifacts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Is Japan? How Far Is That?

For Teachers 1st
First graders use literature and hands-on activities with maps and globes to explain distance and tools used to measure distance. They select tools to measure various objects in the classroom, then apply those concepts to their map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping India

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students participate in an activity in which they place placards listing geographic features, landmarks, etc. in the correct place on a large fabric map of a given country. They also examine artifacts, photos, sounds/music, etc. from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scatter Plots

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate how to make and set up a scatter plot. In this statistics lesson plan, 7th graders collect data and plot it. They analyze their data and discuss their results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cruisin' the Counties: Learning Counties and Major Roads in Arizona

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Pupils examine Arizona counties and use the themes of location and movement to develop an Arizona map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Distance Formula and Marching Nonviolently for Social Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the distance formula using real world data from nonviolent marches for social change.  In this secondary mathematics lesson, students investigate the marches of Gandhi and King using maps overlaid with a coordinate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping an Artifact

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students copy a present day artifact onto graph paper. In groups, they decide the scale of the drawing and create the picture using specific graphing points. They are also given photographs in which there are no graphing points and they...