Lesson Plan
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Go West My Class

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students find data that can be mapped on the Factfinder Web page. They analyze the data from the web site and state recommendations on whether a person should live in Illinois or not based on their preferences.
Lesson Plan
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Alaska Trade

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students spend two days traveling throughout Alaska, trading as they go. They explore universal principles related to trade and commerce while studying about Alaska's geography and indigenous people. At the end of the lesson, students...
Lesson Plan
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If You Build It, Will They Come?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the city of Duluth, Minnesota. In groups, they use the internet to discover its current state of urban geography. After their research, they create and plan their own redeveloping of the city. They share their results...
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Geographic Landscapes and Interstate Freeway Development

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate the topography of the United States through a discovery lesson plan. They create a hypothetical route for a highway across the United States. Students also conduct research major landforms and define geographic terms.
Lesson Plan
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Tooling Around Arizona: Reading Arizona Maps

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils study geography. In this Arizona maps lesson, students develop their map reading skills. They have class discussions and work independently with various copies of Arizona maps to practice those skills. This lesson mentions...
Lesson Plan
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Traveling Along the Indiana Underground Railroad

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars develop a deeper understanding of the role that Indiana played in the Underground Railroad while exploring Indiana Geography.
Lesson Plan
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Conducting Research

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write informational research reports. They are given a worksheet on conducting research. Students are told that they are going to write a research report about trains. They review the list of trains and discuss how each...
Lesson Plan
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Community Improvement

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine a local body of water to determinet the health of its ecosystem and monitor it during the year. If needed they write a report on any conditions that need improvement including photographs and relevant data.
Lesson Plan
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Treasure Hunt Region

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students are introduced to new geography related vocabulary words. In groups, they focus on a different region of the school and develop a new name for it. They create a treasure map for another group to use in the region of the school...
Lesson Plan
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Compare & Locate via the Internet

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders compare the location of their home city/town with a town in another country (non U.S.) that they have selected and researched utilizing the Internet. They create a binder of their reports for future research.
Lesson Plan
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Around the World in 17 Days

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine geography while studying the 2006 Winter Olympics. Students keep track of the winners of each Olympic event by finding the results using the Internet or by reviewing the newspaper and discuss the country the medalist...
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Gwynns Falls

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the question: What is the impact of urban development and expansion on the health of a decidious forest ecosystem and humans? They examine the issue of land development by responding to a specific scenario and...
Lesson Plan
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Start with a Chart

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use a given chart and the 50 state quarters to synthesize information about the 50 states and the dates that they were admitted into the union. Students complete a math worksheet while referring to the chart.
Lesson Plan
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Southern Agriculture and the Slave Trade

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between agriculture and the slave trade during the 1860s. In groups, they research how two factors led to the explosion of slavery in the Southern United States. Using maps, they answer comprehension...
Lesson Plan
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The English Settle America

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders compare immigration today with that of the colonial period. They locate colonies on a map and describe reasons their families immigrated to the United States.
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Rivers And Capitals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars become familiar with the use of GIS for research and become aware of the importance of rivers to cities. They also analyze the placement of cities and learn the names of rivers in the United States.
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Out in the Middle of Nowhere: Inevitable Lifestyle Changes

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the interaction between Utah's geography and its inhabitants. They explain how looking at cause/effect relationships is an example of historical thinking.
Lesson Plan
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Burp Under the Ice

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the impact of climate warming on Arctic methane deposits. They identify natural methane processes and describe how this contributes to species extinction. They write reports on their findings.
Lesson Plan
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The Importance of Water

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the importance of water. They discuss why water is important and students design an experiment that evaluates the water quality and methods of improving water quality. Students perform testing and report their findings.
Lesson Plan
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Mapping The Way With Lewis & Clark

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders analyze and compare maps used on the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Students write reports about the geography of the land. They answer questions about Lewis & Clark.
Lesson Plan
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What do Maps Show?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders practice reading maps.  In this geography lesson, 7th graders compare a topographical map to a picture of the actual place. 
Lesson Plan
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Salt Lake City, Utah

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students research the history of the Salt Lake City. In this geography lesson, students select an activity in Salt Lake City to research, such as snow skiing. Students write a research report.
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Aquatic Exotics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
Lesson Plan
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Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in a scavenger hunt to gather information on their governmental officials. Using the internet, they identify and discuss the various political boundaries to determine who their representative is. They complete a...