This story is bound to motivate your class. Learners read a story called Elena by Diane Stanley. The story is about a young woman who marries for love but is soon widowed during the Mexican Revolution. She takes her children to...

Discuss the work of Matthew Henson, an African American who traveled to the North Pole with Robert Peary. After reading the story "Matthew Henson" by Maryann N. Weidt, learners answer questions by drawing inferences and conclusions,...

“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” Ambrose Bierce’s short story, is used to model how structural moves, the decisions an author makes about setting, point of view, time order, etc., can be examined to reveal an author’s purpose. Groups...

Students are introduced to simple maps and view a map of a classroom and compare distances of items shown.

Eighth graders analyze documents and maps of Plainfield, CT from different time periods, then, working in a small group, create a map for a giventime.  In this Plainfield lesson plan, 8th graders read primary and secondary...

Students create a 3-D topographic map.  For this map building lesson, students use cardboard to create a topographic map of the Catskills mountain region.

Students consider the purpose of various types of maps and their different uses throughout history. They create their own maps and reflect on the map-making process.

Third graders problem solve using drawings and map interpretations. They preview graphs and Cartesian geometry. They follow directions on a map using a grid and compass references while simulating they are reading a pirate map.

Students write directions from a starting point to a destination using a map and ads from the Yellow Pages. They define the following terms using total body response or through the use of random objects: "right-hand," "left-hand,"...

Students identify cities in China on a map. In this map skills lesson, students locate the continent of Asia and the country of China. Students use a blank map to label China and bordering countries.

Fourth graders study slavery escape routes of the Underground Railroad on maps, read an account of an escape and then write narrative essays about a fictional slave's escape.

Underclassmen create a cone-shaped landform and then draw a contour map for it. Then they examine a quadrangle (which was easily located with an online search), and relate it to what they experienced. The accompanying worksheet is...

Young scholars explain that globes are the best way to show positions of places, but flat maps are portable and can show great detail. They make a mercator projection of the route Lewis and Clark took on their journey.

Learners research the geographical histories of various musical genres and make maps that note important places in music history. They Write geographical biographies about one of their favorite musical artists.

Students examine how to read maps for historical information. They listen to a lecture on the history of D-Day, analyze a historical map of the invasion of Normandy, and answer discussion questions.

Students read a story to create the context for the lesson. Then they are given or create a community map. Then students use the scenario of being lost in order to role play giving directions to a partner to find a destination. The...

Students create a life map of their life. They start the activity with a question from the teacher and expand on it. They can share their life maps with the class if they so choose.

Students are read, Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins. For this sequencing lesson, students discover the importance of knowing how to create a map and read it. They listen to the story and complete various map making activities.

Learners explore a physical map. In this map skills lesson, students discuss examples of elevation and investigate the symbols used to identify elevation on a map. Learners use the map to identify various land elevations.

Students investigate the role of lighthouses in navigation and practice the use of cardinal directions through reading activities, discussion, locating geographical features, and mapping lighthouses along the east coast of the United...

Young scholars explore Canadian maps. In this map skills and Canadian history lesson, students locate reserves that originated from treaties made while establishing the Saskatchewan First Nation reserve communities. Young scholars...

Practice basic map skills with the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. After listening to the story, class members create a map that indicates the starting line, the path the animals took, where they stopped to rest, and the finish line....

Learners, after reading a novel, utilize geographic skills to map out the places described in the novel. They collect data, envision spatial features and then design a map to work off of to complete their assignment. Each student also...

Students create a map showing the United States borders at a specific period in history and produce three questions to be answered by examining the map. They also write a productive paragraph explaining who, what, when, where, how/why a...