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Journey of the Nez Perce

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study the retreat of the Nez Perce Native Americans into Montana while tracing their journey on a map. They use the law of cosines to solve problems based on the navigational methods of the Nez Perce. They work with both the law...
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Navigation Across the Seas

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine nautical navigation and discover the differences between nautical charts and other types of maps or charts. Students practice setting a course, taking a bearing, and dead reckoning. This gives students an example of...
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How Healthy is the Wetland?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore wetlands. For this ecology lesson, students visit a wetland site and collect data about the wetland functions. Students record their results and use the data recorded to rate the wetland site on its function.
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Religions of the World

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the part that religion plays in a culture. They explore how many different religions there are in the world and where they're located.
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To Walk the Sky Path

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use maps of Florida. They locate places from a list on their map. Students use the places mentioned in the book, "To Walk the Sky Path," and locate them on the map. Students should have labeled a minimum of 10 places, and...
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I Know Where You Are!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study what a GPS is and use it to challenge themselves and find positions on a map.  In this investigative lesson students find various points on a map using a GPS system and answer questions on a worksheet. 
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China: How to Put Some "Tang" in Your Medieval Dynasties

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders label the countries that border China and the physical features of Asia. They discuss the physical features of Asia and label them on the other map.
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Colonization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore why the Americas attracted Europeans, why they brought enslaved Africans to their colonies, and how Europeans struggled for control of North American and the Caribbean.
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What Are The Characteristics of Your Neighborhood?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students make a mental map of their neighborhood. Using a software program, they make an aerial and digital map of their school and locate their school on given maps. In groups, they calculate the distances to various locations and...
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Roller Coaster Mania

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders extend their knowledge of developing maps. They work in cooperative groups to develop an amusement park display and a brochure.
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Deer Tracks

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students use satellite images to track to movement patterns of deer and examine deer behavior. They write stories about a day in the life of a field scientist.
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What a Site!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders are introduced to how to properly create a grid site. In groups, they use Cartesian coordinates to establish the boundaries for the grid and photograph the location of artifacts. They exchange their photos with another...
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So -- What's Happening Here? On this Old Christmas Tree Farm

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars take a field trip to an old Christmas tree farm near their school. In groups, they gather data at the site and analyze the data in an attempt to discover what happened to the area. They identify human activities that led...
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My Life as a Loggerhead

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners discuss the current flow of the Gulf Stream and the characteristics of the Sargasso Sea. They visit websites to gather information on loggerhead sea turtles. Students imagine that they are newly hatched loggerhead turtles.
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Project WRITE

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders have been taught hwot o use a map. They also know about a compass and different types of maps. Students use a software program to locate and learn about the seven continents. At each continent they are to summarize what...
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Kidsville USA

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders create an imaginary town using Kid Pix. They demonstrate their knowledge of specific vocabulary words and their knowledge and understanding of location by placing schools, stores, parks, etc. appropriately on their maps.
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Blowing in the Wind

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify and interpret maps, graphs, charts, tables and political cartoons. Students identify what a compass rose is and review its meaning in relation to standard directions. Students design their own weathervanes. Students...
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Exploration Activities

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine the stages in finding, removing, and processing mineral resources. They participate in the "Exploration Hunt" and "Leasing Mineral Rights" activities to better get a handle on their studying.
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The Importance of Trade Routes

For Teachers 6th - 9th
In this cultural diffusion study guide worksheet, pupils read a brief overview pertaining to the significance of trade routes and then respond to a reflection question.
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The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush: Native American Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read," The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" by Tomie dePaola and discuss the way legends are passed down orally. They then create their own legend and illustrate it on a simulated "Buffalo Skin" made from brown paper.
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Design Notebook

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create a notebook where they record their plans, designs, revisions, problems, and solutions for a designated project. They examine various samples of design notebooks used by professionals, and develop their own notebook.
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Math: A Geometric Neighborhood

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students, as a final project, draw a picture of their ideal neighborhood on a sunny day. In addition to the sun, their drawings include homes, trees, streets, and selected objects. Each object in their drawing has a written description...
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Mid-Ocean Magnetism

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners investigate magnetic evidence that supports the theory of sea floor spreading.
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Deep Blue: Exploring the Deep Ocean

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine landforms. In this social studies lesson, students bounce a beach ball around in order to discover that seventy percent of the Earth is covered in water. Students