Curated OER
Where is the Water?
Students explore freshwater ecosystems. For this geography lesson, students brainstorm all the lakes and rivers they know then mark them on a map. Students will then mark all the major freshwater resources on each of the seven...
Michigan Sea Grant
Exploring Watersheds
Collaboratively, students partake in a hands-on activity in which they build models of a watershed. Each group member draws an elevation map—a bird's eye view—of their model and predicts how water will flow from the high to low points....
Curated OER
Graphin' And Glyphin' Utah Weather
Fourth graders investigate the concepts of looking at sets of data. The focus of the study is upon the local weather of Utah. They study the weather found in the city and in the country and make comparisons based upon geographical location.
Curated OER
Ancient Highways-Native Byways of Salmon Lake State Park
Eighth graders investigate the concept of the trail system used by the Native Americans. They compare and contrast the trails to modern transportation roadways of today. Students also define the types of information archaeologists use to...
Curated OER
Dead Sea Investigation: Middle East and African Connections
Students demonstrate comprehension of the physical characteristics of the Dead Sea region and its connection to the Red Sea and the African Great Rift Valley. They are given students the opportunity to understand the role of plate...
Curated OER
Richard Misrach
Students analyze the Great Salt Lake as a resource for artistic work and other studies. In this art analysis instructional activity, students view maps that show the location of the Great Salt Lake including a satellite image. Students...
Curated OER
SUBMARINE MOUNTAINS
Students create a two-dimensional contour map of a submerged area from a simulated survey using sounding techniques.
Curated OER
A Funny Taste
Students participate in a demonstration that illustrates the relative amounts of salt in various bodies of water including the Dead Sea, Sallt Lake, Ocean water and distilled water. They taste and compare various mixtures.
Curated OER
Centennial: Ghost Riders And Rest Stops
Fourth graders read aged letters that describe communities or stops along the route of the early Pony Express. Each day they mark on a map where the letters come from and chart the Pony Express route. They compare to today's mail and...
Curated OER
Come On Over To Maya Place
Fifth graders analyze the Mayan culture. In this Mayan culture lesson, 5th graders study the Mayan culture noting similarities and differences between the Mayan culture and their own. Students examine hieroglyphic writing and the Mayan...
Curated OER
The Expansion of The United States, 1846-1848
Students interpret historical maps,identify territories acquired by the United States in the 1840s. Also they identify states later formed from these territories. The primary sources for the lesson are the maps found in the lesson's...
Curated OER
Finding Your Way Around the I & M Canal
Fifth graders utilize a map of the I&M Canal (imbedded in this plan), and perform a series of tasks. They calculate distance, find specific points of interest and solve a set of story problems about the canal.
Curated OER
Angkor What? Angkor Wat!
Tenth graders examine Angkor Wat and its place in history. They visit websites, utilize maps, and complete interactive worksheets. Students investigate the local temple to discover its purpose.
Curated OER
Discovering the Oasis
Students focus on the types of vegetation and animal life living around local water sources. This lesson plan can be adapted to any local water source, whether it be a lake, a river, stream or ocean. It has a particular focus on the...
Curated OER
Designing a Park and Lodge
Students view a video entitle Great Lodges of the National Parks. They design, in groups of three, their own park based on research of a specific area. Each member of the group possess a different task in order to accomplish the project.
Curated OER
The Mussels Are Coming
Students work together to identify and describe the various types of mussels. Using a color-coded system, they plot the arrival date of zebra mussels in North American waters. They discuss the increase in their population with the class.
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: Illinois
Connect the geography and history of Illinois using an art-centered activity on the railroads. The railroad connected once-distant places, particularly in the Midwest. Using research, class members create postcards of fictional...
Curated OER
Mystery State #15
Do you know the name of the Badger State? Using five fantastic clues, your super sleuths will determine the name of mystery state number 15. A wonderful way to warm up the class!
Curated OER
Aquatic Exotics
Learners 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...
Curated OER
Rising Temperatures Threaten Penguins
Learners examine the continent of Antarctica, then read a news article about the decline in the Antarctic penguin population. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity,...
Curated OER
Invasive Mussels
In this ecology activity, students study a fact sheet on invasive mussels. They answer 8 short answer questions about it after reading the provided information.
Curated OER
Michigan History of Philanthropy
Middle schoolers investigate how philanthropy began in Michigan. In this philanthropy lesson, students read Michigan History of Philanthropy and read a timeline of several events. Middle schoolers create a picture with a sentence about a...
Curated OER
Major American Water Routes
Sixth graders locate and identify the major bodies of water and waterways in the United States. Through a simulation activity, they describe how early explorers would have described their surroundings. Working in groups, they create...
Curated OER
Cities as Transportation Centers
Young scholars work in small groups to identify some of the major transportation centers, recommending two as possible sites for a national political convention, based on population density and the travel networks available in 1835.