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Climb a Mountain, Raft a River on Your Own Land

For Teachers K - 2nd
Pupils are introduced to the characteristics of a map. As a class, they discuss the uses of public lands in their community and develop symbols for each feature. They use the symbols to create a map showing the recreational uses of the...
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Water, Water Everywhere: The Johnstown Flood

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students analyze the events that lead up to the failure of the South Fork Dam and the impact the flood had on the region. For this historical lesson students develop presentations on the Johnstown Flood.
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Unit Plan Template

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Use this U.S. History unit plan as a template for creating your own! Simply download the resource and edit the text fields with your own customized unit plan. This is a great jumping-off step, especially for newer teachers. 
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Kansas Prairie Homes

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students read about settlers in Kansas and the adaptations they made in order to build different kinds of houses. In this Kansas settlers lesson plan, students participate in choral reading and retell information they learn.
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Mountain Myths

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students become familiar with Native American myths and legends created to explain volcanic activity. They apply the clustering, writing process and peer-editing techniques to the writing of an original myth about Mount St. Helens
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Sand Dollars

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars debate the issues of economic prosperity, cultural preservation and environmental preservation by examining the development of land in the Bahamas.
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Exploring Folk Traditions and Folk Beliefs

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders work together to brainstorm an idea to focus on the similiarties and differences between various cultures. Individually, they interview family members using questions they created based on their topic. They use their...
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The Great Kapok Tree

For Teachers K - 7th
Students read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. After reading the story, they center on the controversy of destroying the rain forest or conserving it. Students have to make an informed decision about rain forest destruction.
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Map Making with Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop maps based on a virtual internet expedition of The Louisiana Purchase land area. They create the maps based on an actual outdoor expedition of their communities. Student create two maps, one based on the Louisiana...
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Special Report: Flood of the Great River

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students work together in groups and role play the role of television crews. Using the internet, they research specific events of the Mississippi River flooding and report their findings to the class from different angles. They are to...
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Does Conflict Shape Nations? The Middle East

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students locate settlements and observe patterns in the size and distribution of cities using maps, graphics, and other information. They explain the processes that have caused cities to grow.
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Mapping Population Changes In The United States

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners create a choropleth map to illustrate the population growth rate of the United States. They explore how to construct a choropleth map, and discuss the impact of population changes for the future.
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The New Segregation

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students use census data to analyze the racial and economic diversity of their community. They discuss the role of diversity within communities and the impact that land use decisions can have on the composition of a community.
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Why Not Visit My Country?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research a country using the Travel Languages Web site. Using MS Publisher, they create a travel flyer about the country. Using Inspiration, they develop a concept map of what they learned about their country.
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Culture

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers learn what culture is, define related terms and apply these concepts to a culture other than their own in a research assignment.
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Edible Maps

For Teachers 1st
First graders, in groups, identify major geographical features of Texas. They form a topographical map of Texas using edible dough, candy, etc. They present and then eat their maps.
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Map Skills

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the nations, battlefields, troop movement of the Germans through Belgium and the location of both fronts during World War I by creating a map. They visualize the strength of the Germans early in the war.
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Explorers of New York State

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study European explorers who made an impact of New York State. They conduct research and create a timeline and a Powerpoint presentation about one of the explorers.
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Uncharted Territory

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils examine what were preconceived perceptions of the areas Lewis and Clark explored. They compare and contrast past and modern maps of North America. They accurately place route and site information on the map.
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The Challenges Ahead

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the physical obstacles that the Lewis and Clark expedition encountered on its journey. They report what challenges these physical obstacles might have posed. They review a modern-day map and explain if the obstacles...
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Eastern Europe: Passport to Understanding

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore Eastern Europe. They analyze data on select countries. Students prepare a short oral presentation on the country they researched. They locate their country using an interactive map.
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Mapping Lab and Lead Poisoning

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are introduced to GIS and its uses. They make predictions before viewing the actual lead poisoning cases by location of Dade County. Pupils use actual Miami-Dade County spatial data to explore basic principals. Students
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Creation Mythology

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students construct a map from geographic data and explain relationships found in the information. Students identify ancient beliefs and customs through Hawaiian creation myths while comparing similarities and differences and appreciating...
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Push/Pull factors in Immigration

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the push/pull factors experienced by immigrant families. They interview a parent and an American about their family's immigration history. Students write a summary of the interview and compare the push/pull factors of...