Curated OER
World Map and Globe- Introduction to Symbols
Students investigate picture symbols. In this symbols instructional activity, students define symbols and discuss symbols that they see in everyday life. Students identify symbols on maps by using post-it notes.
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Using Social Studies in Five Shared Reading Lessons: Geography
After several short 15-minute mini-lessons, your learners will gain an understanding of the characteristics of a non-fiction text. Using the book Map It by Elspeth Leacock, your class will become acquainted with non-fiction terms...
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US City Quality of Life Analysis and Comparison
Learners analyze US census data and criteria to compare and measure the quality of life in the country's fifty largest cities. After accessing the 2005 quality of life world report online, students conduct their study to compare three...
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What Can a Map Tell You?
Students investigate how maps can provide useful information about health issues. They study a map to draw conclusions about cholera death in London.
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Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Landscape Long Ago and Today
Combine a fantastic review of primary source analysis with a study of Captain John Smith's influence on the Chesapeake Bay region in the seventeenth century. Your young historians will use images, a primary source excerpt, and maps...
Space Awareness
Continental Climate and Oceanic Climate
There's nothing better than a cool breeze blowing in from the ocean. Scholars explore how water affects change in temperature using a hands-on experiment on climate. They use measurement tools to compare the continental and oceanic...
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Cacao Tree Geography
Students use a map to learn about where chocolate comes from. In this lesson on the cacao tree, students locate various regions where the cacao tree grows. They will discuss why the cacao tree grows more favorably in particular climates...
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California Geography
Fourth graders explore geography of four distinct regions of California: mountains, coast, central valley, and desert. They locate California on map, identify state's boundaries and borders, and explore agriculture, a major economic...
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Using Old Maps as Tools to Explore Our World
Students explore historical maps. In this primary source analysis lesson, students uncover the meanings in selected historical maps as they use them to enhance lessons on historical events. Samples for classroom use are provided in this...
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Mapping the Transcontinental Journey
Students develop their geography skills. In this Lewis and Clark lesson, students collaborate to calculate the time and distance of different segments of the expedition. Students compare their estimate to Lewis and Clark's.
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Introduction to Field Mapping with a Compass and Pace
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...
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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...
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Introduction to Maps
Students develop their map skills. In this geography lesson, students participate in an activity that requires them to survey their social studies book in order to find different types of maps and purposes for their uses.
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The Global Grid System-World Map Activity
Students demonstrate how to use the global grid system. In this map skills lesson, students use a world map to locate various locations. Students identify locations based on the global grid system. Students complete a worksheet as an...
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Globe Skills Lesson 4 The Colonial Period
Learners 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.
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United States Map Lesson
Students explore basic map skills. In this United States geography lesson, students define "country" and "state," locate their state on a United States map, and identify and trace state boundaries defining their state and surrounding...
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Globe Skills Lesson 7 The Transcontinental Railroad
Young scholars explore the Transcontinental Railroad. In this geography skills lesson, students use map skills in order to locate legs of the Transcontinental Railroad on globes.
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Globe Skills Lesson 6 The Louisiana Purchase
Middle schoolers explore the Louisiana Purchase territory. In this geography skills lesson, students use map skills in order to plot and note latitude and longitude, measure scale distance, and locate landforms that were part of the...
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Globe Skills Lesson 5
In this map skills worksheet, students read a text selection about locations during the American Revolution and then respond to 8 fill in the blank questions.
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The Great Military: Map of Texas
The battle at the Alamo may be one of the most famous military campaigns in Texas history, but it is by no means the only one. As part of their study of the military history of Texas, class members research less-well-known sites, locate...
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Crude Conversation
Young scholars analyze text and maps in determining the effect the world's energy resources have on human society, and make charts illustrating at least three ways each resource makes life easier for human society.
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Geography Terms
Introduce the terms and concepts related to basic map and geography skills. Terms include full definitions and cover latitude, longitude, the Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Prime Meridian, and the International Date Line.
Star Wars in the Classroom
Star Wars Geography Unit
What kind of animals live on an ice planet like Hoth? How would the habitat on Tatooine allow different organisms to thrive? Connect social studies, science, and Star Wars in one engaging activity that focuses on the ecosystems...
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World Geography - Climate Notes
A challenging activity helps young geographers explore the temperatures around the world! They study how the Earth's land temperatures are affected by their proximity to an ocean, as well their latitude and their altitude. A very...