If every vote counts, why do we need the electoral college? Middle and high schoolers study the Constitutional precedent of the electoral college, as well as its place in historical and modern elections, with an engaging social studies...

A close examination of John Gast's painting "American Progress" launches a study of the concept of Manifest Destiny used to justify United States' policy of westward expansion. Young historians read statements from persons with different...

It is pointed, powerful, and painful! The first of three lessons about laws and practices that support inequality looks at how government policies created and reinforced segregated communities. Young social scientists read excerpts from...

Let us be frank! Writers learn that crafting a thesis statement is not that difficult if one peals back the layers. After watching several videos about the elements of a thesis, class members read the article "Lettuce Club helps students...

Third graders explore a variety of ways to represent text. They represent text in story maps while on the playground. Students depict the elements of a story on a story map. They create a poster for character, setting, problem, and the...

Students practice locating positions on the world map. In this map skills lesson, students explore the world map and items such as the compass rose, Equator, mountains, cities, etc. The students practice locating positions on the world...

Learners research USGS maps and identify the major features. In this map skills lesson, students identify low and high elevations on a USGS map and practice finding latitude and longitude.

Students investigate scale as it is related to maps. In this map lesson, students read Jack and the Beanstalk by Carol North. Students then compare the setting in the story to a landscape picture map to help them study scale.

Students explore the concept of relative location. In this map instructional activity, students read I Hate English by Ellen Levine and consider how maps and globes help people to familiarize themselves with an area.

Young scholars read Blackbeard and brainstorm their knowledge of maps. In this language arts and geography lesson, students use landmarks on their playground to review north, south, east and west and discuss the compass rose. Young...

Learners read a book about maps and identify the differences between a picture and a map. In this maps lesson plan, students also label maps of their home, neighborhood, and community.

Students explore story structure. They discuss questions they can ask themselves while silently reading. Students implement their story knowledge by making story maps. They read The Little Pink Rose and the Cloud and create a story map...

Students explore the United States using a map. In this map lesson, students discover how to use map symbols in order to read maps.

Learners locate the local community, surrounding communities and major geographic features of the SE Utah and the Four-Corners region on a map, after receiving direct instruction.

First graders create a map and display an understanding of the cardinal directions. For this map skills lesson, 1st graders listen to stories where a map would come in handy, create their own map, and use the cardinal directions accurately.

Students answer reading comprehension questions using the "story grammar" technique. They listen to a story and then answer questions using the technique: main character, setting, main events, and resolution. Students complete an...

Third graders choose one character from a book they have read recently. Using paper, they create a character map of the character along with a small drawing to show what they look like. To end the activity, they share their character...

Students study map grids and explore how they can be used to locate positions of objects or features on a map. They read a story and then participate in a grid activity using a large map of the setting of the story.

Seventh graders begin this instructional activity by viewing various maps of the Ancient World. As a class, they take notes on the changes of different areas in Europe and Asia as their teacher lectures to them. They answer questions...

Young scholars explore the state capitals. In this geography lesson, students use a political map to identify the state capitals and place post-it notes on various capitals.

Young scholars examine maps of the 1800's and 1900's. In this geography skills lesson plan, students collaborate to read core maps and identify transportation centers and travel networks.

Students read Little Red Riding Hood, focusing on her path home to Grandma's house. In this language arts and geography lesson, students perform a reader's theater, re-creating the walk home and possible routes that could have been...

First graders solve a mystery by following map clues. In this map clues lesson plan, 1st graders follow a computer program called Neighborhood Map Machine. In this program, it gives students directional and spatial clues in order to...

Students plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson, students first discover how to read...