National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 3: On the Road with Marco Polo: From Hormuz to Kashgar
Young explorers examine the route that Marco Polo and his father traveled to reach China. They examine online maps of the Silk Road and harsh terrain of Afghanistan to determine challenges that may have been encountered during travel.
Curated OER
Waldseemuller's Map: World 1507
Students investigate the 1507 word map. In this world geography lesson, students examine the details of each section of the map and then draw conclusions about how the people of 1507 understood the world. Students are evalated on...
Curated OER
Mapping Puerto Rico
Students use maps to discover where Puerto Rico is located. In groups, they use the internet to research the vegetation. They also compare and contrast the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico's government.
Curated OER
Introducing Topographic Maps: Guiding Students from Concrete Models to Graphic Representations
Students interpret topographic maps and infer human activity as it is influenced by the landscape.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
A Classroom Solar System
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.
Curated OER
Mapping Community Values
Pupils discuss the origin of various maps focusing on the values behind them. Students also explore how human needs and geography influence community settlement patterns. Pupils extend learning by creating and mapping their own ideal...
Curated OER
Waldseemüller’s Map: World 1507
Middle schoolers take a closer look at historical maps. In this primary source analysis lesson, students examine the first world map produced by Martin Waldseemuller. Middle schoolers complete the included map analysis worksheet and then...
Curated OER
Mapping the Ocean Floor
Students construct and interpret a line graph of ocean floor depth and a bar graph comparing the height/depth of several well-known natural and man-made objects and places. In addition, they calculate the depth of two points using sonar...
Curated OER
Introduction To Topographic Map Activities
Students discuss different types of maps, their similarities and differences. Using a Topographical Maps CD-rom program students create their own map.
Curated OER
Rivers, Maps, and Math
Students use maps to locate and label the major rivers of North and South America. Using the internet, they identify forests, grasslands, mountain ranges and other landforms on the continents as well. They compare and contrast the...
Rainforest Alliance
Knowing the Essential Elements of a Habitat
To gain insight into the many different types of habitats, individuals must first get to know their own. Here, scholars explore their school environment, draw a map, compare and contrast their surroundings to larger ones. They then...
Curated OER
Draw To Scale The E-Z Way
Fourth graders draw a rough floor plan of a house to scale without using a ruler to determine measurements. They see how architects use scale to draw blueprints, and solve math problems using scale.
Curated OER
Organization of a Territory, Map Elements
Third graders compare printed and online maps and use proper geographic terminology to answer questions.
Curated OER
Finding Your Way Using Maps and Globes
Students identify the similarities and differences between different maps and globes. Individually, they create a map of their classroom along with a compass rose. They also practice reading maps as a class and finding specific locations.
Curated OER
Tooling Around Arizona: Reading Arizona Maps
Students research Arizona maps. In this map lesson plan, students discuss map titles, scales, directions, elevation, and symbols. The class will examine topography, landforms, and rivers found on an Arizona map.
Curated OER
Essential Elements of Habitat
First graders compare their local area with the Belize landscape. They construct maps of the school area, adding descriptive information. They write haiku poems about their favorite outside places.
Curated OER
Exploring Hawaiian Mountain Zones
Fourth graders watch a video that describes the climate and vegetation zones of Hawaii. They describe the different physical conditions that create vegetation zones from the sea to the mountains. In groups, they create an illustrated...
Curated OER
You Are Here
Students map local places and learn to use scale and distance. In this mapping lesson plan, students map their school and a favorite place. Students recreate their maps showing distance and scale sizes. Students locate their...
Delegation of the European Union to the United States
Cultural Identity
How does cultural diversity impact political identity? That is the question researchers face as they continue their examination of the European Union and the programs it has developed in its attempt to achieve unity in diversity. To gain...
Curated OER
Comparing Ratios
For this comparing ratios worksheet, students solve and complete 3 different problems using the screens shown. First, they write a ratio that compares the shaded part to unshaded part illustrated. Then, students use the same grid to...
Curated OER
Comparing Distances
Students practice estimating distances by analyzing a map. In this length measurement lesson, students view a map with a distance key and use their measurement skills to estimate the distance between two cities. Students utilize an...
Curated OER
Mapping Your Community
Students define the boundaries of their community by comparing the community's official boundaries with other historical, political, physical, and perceived boundaries of the area and create a community map.
Curated OER
Lakes of Methane on Titan
In this methane lakes worksheet, students read about the false-color synthetic radar map taken by the Cassini spacecraft indicating methane lakes on Titan. Students solve 4 problems about the surface area of the lakes from the image, and...
Curated OER
Earthquakes: Fifth Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
After learning about P waves and S waves, fifth graders view the intensity of earthquakes by examining seismographs and images of earthquake damage. Young scientists then forecasting future quakes by analyzing data about...