Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cities as Transportation Centers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work in small groups to identify some of the major transportation centers, recommending two as possible sites for a national political convention, based on population density and the travel networks available in 1835.
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Exploring Watersheds

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Collaboratively, students partake in a hands-on activity in which they build models of a watershed. Each group member draws an elevation map—a bird's eye view—of their model and predicts how water will flow from the high to low points....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking for Clues

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars infer the cause of a shipwreck based upon information about artifacts found in the wreck. In this marine archeology lesson, students use an inventory list to infer the cause of a shipwreck. Young scholars discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Americans Names

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to the Native American groups of Michigan. Using primary source documents, they reconstruct events that occured in their local community. They discover the names of cities and towns in Michigan are related to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Centennial: Ghost Riders And Rest Stops

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read aged letters that describe communities or stops along the route of the early Pony Express. Each day they mark on a map where the letters come from and chart the Pony Express route. They compare to today's mail and...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Traveling Through North America

For Teachers 2nd
Students identify places and landmarks in North America, specifically Canada and the United States, by using and constructing maps. Six lessons on one page; includes test.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring National Marine Sanctuaries

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers conduct Internet research of the living organisms in national marine sanctuaries, and the resources protected in the sanctuaries. Students gather information about each of the sanctuaries and make an oral presentation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Funny Taste

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students participate in a demonstration that illustrates the relative amounts of salt in various bodies of water including the Dead Sea, Sallt Lake, Ocean water and distilled water. They taste and compare various mixtures.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

America the Beautiful

For Teachers 7th
Students analyze the physical geography of the United States and how we have adapted to or altered the land to create the country we know today. Students complete maps with physical features, states and cities of interest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Come On Over To Maya Place

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders analyze the Mayan culture. In this Mayan culture lesson, 5th graders study the Mayan culture noting similarities and differences between the Mayan culture and their own. Students examine hieroglyphic writing and the Mayan...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Fourth Grade Social Studies Quiz

For Students 4th
In this social studies worksheet, 4th graders complete multiple choice questions about the colonies, The Boston Tea Party, Native Americans, and more. Students complete 15 questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Oasis

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students focus on the types of vegetation and animal life living around local water sources. This lesson can be adapted to any local water source, whether it be a lake, a river, stream or ocean. It has a particular focus on the bird...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heritage: What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle. They present their findings to Brigham Young and the class with a short...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Developing a Gateway to the West

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify various topographical features that contribute to the growth of a city. They identify how military strategies contribute to the growth of a city.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designing a Park and Lodge

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students view a video entitle Great Lodges of the National Parks. They design, in groups of three, their own park based on research of a specific area. Each member of the group possess a different task in order to accomplish the project.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Angkor What? Angkor Wat!

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine Angkor Wat and its place in history. They visit websites, utilize maps, and complete interactive worksheets. Students investigate the local temple to discover its purpose.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is A Dinosaur?

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars use the question of "What is a dinosaur?" in order to establish the context for a class investigation. They use a variety of resources in order to gather information. Students compare and contrast the similarities or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquatic Exotics

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify and describe the aquatic exotic species found in Illinois. Using the internet, they research the species origins and discover their effects on native species in the area. They discuss how appropriate it is to introduce...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Invasive Mussels

For Students 6th - 10th
In this ecology learning exercise, students study a fact sheet on invasive mussels. They answer 8 short answer questions about it after reading the provided information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treaties- Grade 7

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine treaties pertaining to the Canadian natives. In this Canadian history lesson plan, 7th graders research and discuss the negotiations that took place between the First Nations cultures and the Canadian government...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Welcome to the Sahara Desert

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore their artistic skills. In this Sahara Desert lesson, students use the Internet to research the Sahara and paint a watercolor picture depicting the desert.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying Pennsylvania Watersheds

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study and identify the six major drainage systems in Pennsylvania.  In this watershed instructional activity students read an article, complete an activity and take a quiz on what they learned. 
Graphic
United Nations

United Nations: Cartographic Section: Great Lakes Region (Map 2) [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This map of the Great Lakes region in Africa from the United Nations shows the large lakes, the countries the lakes touch, and rivers that flow into and out of the lakes.
Graphic
United Nations

United Nations: Cartographic Section: Great Lakes Region (Map 1) [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The United Nations offers this very clear map of part of the Great Lakes region in eastern Africa. The lakes, of course, are labeled, as are the rivers, major cities, and countries.