Students identify and collect postmarks from across the United States. They develop a list of ways to collect postmarks, display the postmarks on a large U.S. map, and find the exact location using MapQuest.

Second graders examine the different ways people move from place to place in a neighborhood. Using the interactive online atlas MapQuest, they identify the various ways people move around their own neighborhood by creating a map and...

Students explore measuring tools by calculating heights and lengths of random objects. In this distance measurement lesson, students utilize the Internet service MapQuest to measure the distance between their current towns and many other...

View a PBS video entitled Horatio's Drive and explore Horatio's Ratios. Collaborative learners form groups to use Mapquest to determine distances covered. They generate the mathematical averages, ratios, and rates in order to calculate...

If you could travel anywhere in the United States, where would you go? Use this question to interest your fourth, fifth, and sixth graders as they experiment with Mapquest or other direction-based resources. They choose where they'd like...

Students discuss the most common U.S. place names. They map the locations of U.S. cities with the most common names and use an atlas, or an online map tool such as MapQuest or Yahoo Maps.

Students use a ruler to determine length and then fit the unit to a scale in miles. This unit will also give a geological awareness of altitude and the difference it makes in travel time. The travel time with Mapquest will obviously be...

Fifth graders use estimation to solve problems and assess the reasonableness of their answers. They may use an odometer, a map with a legend, MapQuest, or a map without a legen. They estimate 4 to 5 different scenarios.

Proportions are ratios found using multiplication or division. Middle schoolers solve measurement problems, find a figure's missing dimension, and find the distance between two points. Resource features four lesson plans with detailed...

Research milestones from the past century. Transportation milestones have changed society, the economy, communication, and travel. Pupils research these changes in order to create a transportation exhibit showing the enhancements in...

Imagine you have money you want to save ... where do you put it?  Pupils investigate the similarities and differences of banks and credit unions as they determine where exactly to place their hard-earned money. Through a WebQuest, they...

When is a foot not a foot? When you use the length of your own foot to measure distances, of course. To underscore the importance of standardized units of measurement, middle schoolers engage in a series of activities that ask them to...

Learners design historical quilts. In this presidential history lesson, students research past presidents and landmarks named for them. Learners create quilt squares to represent the landmarks and piece all of them together in a large...

Sixth graders identify countries of the European Union. They locate countries of Europe on a map and pair with a student to complete a blank map of Europe. They label each country and complete worksheets for the European Union. They...

Students examine the origins of the names of U.S. states, focusing on names that were derived from Native American words. They are provided with lists of the names of the 50 states, and then research online or in library resources the...

Students create an online "community journal". For this communities lesson, students use a writing template to send e-mail to various people to learn more about their community. The journal is passed from person to person.

Young scholars give directions in Spanish

Learners are shown the very basics of navigation. The concepts of relative and absolute location, latitude, longitude and cardinal directions are discussed, as well as the use and principles of a map and compass.

Students plan for a trip. They use map quest and / or road maps to decide on an address for their trip. They determine the mileage, lodging, gasoline to be used, shortest distance and fastest distance.

Young scholars give & follow directions given in Spanish, using oral, written and graphics. They use maps, globes, atlases, and remote sensing, GIS, and GPS to acquire and process information about places.

In this latitude and longitude worksheet, students find the coordinates of 14 cities around the world and use this information to complete 14 short answer questions. This worksheet includes online atlas web links.

Sixth graders research Veteran's Day and wars that affected the United States. In this research lesson plan, 6th graders work in small groups to create an oral presentation based on Internet and conventional research. They complete...

High schoolers discuss the physical and human impacts of community design. They identify traditional neighborhood design elements and evaluate them with features of conventional suburban development.

Students uses atlases, maps, and Web resources to determine the distance, driving time, and amount of money they need to make the trip (estimates should include hotel/motel stays, meals, and souvenirs).