Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienteering II

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students name the parts of a compass and comprehend the function of each part. They define paces and tallies and use them in a real world situation. Students are shown the proper use of radio terminology. They use a map and compass to...
Lesson Plan
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Native American Homelands

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the Navajo, Sioux, and Iroquois tribes, noting their distinctive characteristics. They trace the homeland of each of the tribes on maps and create map keys. Students explain how they developed their map keys.
Lesson Plan
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Orienteering

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students acquaint with co-participants and identify the practice basic compass functions and orienteering procedures. They also work together to solve a small challenge. Students then identify how the challenge of orienteering relates...
Lesson Plan
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Following a Bearing

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students practice finding a bearing.  In this orienteering lesson plan, students review how to use a compass and set a bearing.  Students complete a worksheet where they practice finding a bearing and complete a group activity...
Lesson Plan
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TE Activity: Northward Ho!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design a simple compass. They examine how the Earth's magnetic field has both horizontal and vertical components. They determine how a compass works and work with cardinal directions.
Lesson Plan
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GPS Treasure Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars explore geography by participating in a treasure hunt activity. In this Global Positioning System lesson plan, students define the terms latitude and longitude while utilizing an electronic GPS device. Young scholars view...
Lesson Plan
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Nina Bonita: Culture and Beauty

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Pupils read Nina Bonita by Ana Maria Machado. For this reading comprehension/ geography lesson, students recall various parts of the story and create a map of where the rabbit traveled throughout the story. They participate in group...
Lesson Plan
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Map your Schoolyard

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students practice their mapping skills by creating an accurate map of their schoolyard using an aerial photo from the National Map web site. Students include legends, a scale, and a north arrow on their maps.
Lesson Plan
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Mapping Central Park

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners use the mapping skills to explore New York's Central Park. They examine a map of Central Park to discover its features. After discussing the characteristics of the park, students design their own dream park and draw it to scale.
Lesson Plan
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Maps as Models of Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use different types of maps to find locations and surface features.  In this map-reading lesson students use a compass to find direction.
Lesson Plan
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It's Happening, Where? Find the Absolute and Relative Location of News Articles

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read newspaper articles. In this social studies lesson, students locate the latitude and longitude of the location where the news article takes place. Students write a summary of the news article.
Lesson Plan
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Lesson on GPS

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate global positioning systems. In this technology and mapping instructional activity, students view a PowerPoint presentation in which they identify the features of a GPS, state its uses, and follow steps to find a...
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Curated OER

Mapmaking

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine the craft of cartography and how the Lewis and Clark expedition created and used maps. They analyze maps, read a handout, create a map, participate in a mini expedition and map out a route based on travel directions,...
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Curated OER

United States: Physical Features Fun

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this map worksheet, young scholars color and trace eleven listed features on a map of the United States. Students answer six additional questions about the map. A United States map is not provided. However, websites are provided to...
Lesson Plan
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California Geography

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore geography of four distinct regions of California: mountains, coast, central valley, and desert. They locate California on map, identify state's boundaries and borders, and explore agriculture, a major economic...
Lesson Plan
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Strawberry Girl: Lesson 3 - Trains, Sails, and Trails

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners read two chapters of Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski and complete activities about Florida's transportation history. In this literacy and economics lesson, students read two chapters of the book, talk about their journal entries,...
Lesson Plan
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Globe Lesson 4 - The Compass

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study compass' and their use in navigation. For this compass lesson, students use a compass and a globe to answer the questions about navigation.
Lesson Plan
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Book: First Encounters Between Spain and the Americas: Two Worlds Meet

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars, after reading Chapter 1 in the book, "First Encounters Between Spain and the Americas: Two Worlds Meet," design and create a map of the Aztec Empire at the time of the first contract with the Spanish. They create the map...
Lesson Plan
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Texas Regions and Native Americans of Texas

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research to find the regions of Texas.  In this technology activity, 4th graders create a Kid Pix project showing the location of various regions of Texas.  Students show where in those regions Native American...
Lesson Plan
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Waldseemuller's Map: World 1507

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders analyze various maps.  In this Geography lesson, 7th graders create a large map as a whole class.  Students write a letter to Mr. Waldseemuller. 
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Using 4 main directions in a classroom

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars use the four directions of a compass rose to locate classroom features. In this directions lesson plan, students locate the features by identifying directions.
Lesson Plan
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Of Compasses, Sextants and Chronometers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify longitude and latitude and how they were, and are, determined, and discuss the rudiments of navigation in the eighteenth century.
Lesson Plan
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Directions on a United States Map

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students generate directions for an imaginary trip. For this map lesson, students review the four main directions and how to use a map legend. Students locate destinations based on directions given by classmates.
Lesson Plan
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MAPPING THE SCHOOL FOREST

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students measure distances and directions using paces and a compass. They determine their own pace, explore how to read a compass bearing, and how to take bearings on given sites.