After brainstorming reasons why Native Americans mapped their lands, your young critical thinkers will work together to review their ideas and determine the definition of a map. With today's extensive use of mapping technology and GPS...

Introduce you map scale and ratios lesson with this informative video. A student demonstrates how to properly use a scale on a map, as well as read a topographic map. This is a fantastic video to show during your map unit!

Fourth graders investigate the Hatfield and McCoy feud. In this Hatfield and McCoy feud lesson, 4th graders examine factors that caused the feud. Students also locate on a map where the feud took place, make a timeline of the main events...

Students create an online "community journal". For this communities lesson, students use a writing template to send e-mail to various people to learn more about their community. The journal is passed from person to person.

Reinforce learning about US geography with this tasty project. Have your kids cut out state-shaped sugar cookies by laying patterns on top of dough and cutting them out with a table knife. Integrate math by working with fractions and...

Students map local places and learn to use scale and distance.  In this mapping lesson, students map their school and a favorite place.  Students recreate their maps showing distance and scale sizes. Students locate their location on a...

Third graders listen to stories of the seven teachings and use its principles to discuss community.  In this seven teachings lesson, 3rd graders create a collage of the teachings such as honesty, humility,and respect illustrating their...

Sixth graders review the elements of patterns in numbers and artwork and then use Photoshop to create an artistic pattern. In this pattern lesson, 6th graders view step by step videos on patterning. Students work on the computer to...

Students examine their immediate school neighborhood and create a map of the surrounding neighborhood. They take a walk around the school and take notes and sketch important features, draw a map, and construct a three-dimensional map of...

Students compare and contrast varying approaches to present information, as they create a workable study guide. They create a Mystery Map with hidden words, facts, or hints to find treasures. Afterward, they interact and discuss...

Students investigate North and South Korea. In this research instructional activity, students gather facts about North and South Korea. In groups students research using encyclopedias, the internet and other sources. Students compare and...

Students, accompanied by an adult, walk around the neighborhood observing details about streets and buildings. They observe and discuss the meaning of street signs to produce and label an accurate map of their home/school and the nearby...

Wrap up this unit by navigating through a prescribed course using a map and a compass. Put all the skills learned about reading a compass and using a map to navigate through an unknown course. Each learner should have a control card...

Students interpret data on snow cover and analyze trend patterns. In this snow lesson students compare data and locate their school's GPS coordinates.

Although the big picture for this lesson on the New Guidea Campaign of WWII is taking a field trip to the Douglas MacArthur Memorial, you can easily use it as a guide to an independent or group research project as well. However, if you...

Students examine the purpose of a color key and use a color key to help them read a map.

Students play a board game where their tokens must move Columbus west. They choose cards which give commands to move in a coordinate direction. They practice moving west, north, east, south by playing the game.

Students investigate the concept of a compass and it has been used in the past and in modern times. They practice using it in the wilderness in order to test its importance in various exploring activities. Each activity is accompanied by...

Students compare historical maps with modern-day maps including specifically the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They research online the characteristics of life during the Chesapeake Bay watershed and identify the changes that have taken place.

Students use a map key to estimate the distance from Salt Lake City, Utah, to ten other cities. Then they use an online distance calculator to see how close their estimates come!

Students create a Road Trip. They work in small groups. Students are given a road map for each group. They plan a road trip between two cities on opposite edges of the map, estimating a reasonable distance to travel each day. Students...

What do papayas, peanuts, pineapples, and potatoes have in common? Why, they are foods explorers brought back to the Old World. Young researchers use the Internet to investigate how New World explorers helped change the Old World's diet....

Students practice map-reading skills as they locate Mexico and its cities on a world map. By creating a puzzle out of a map of Mexico, students engage in a meaningful hands-on activity to help them explore that country's geography.

Without using a ruler, learners estimate the relative length of various lines in these three scenarios. The first two are set up as maps, with learners determining the shortest and longest distances from one position to another. The last...