Interactive
iCivics

County Basics

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
To understand the concept of a county government system, scholars read a short passage, view a helpful visual aid, use the web to conduct some research about their local areas, and then answer related questions online.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Customized Topographic Maps and Models

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore the information depicted on topographic maps. They construct a 3-D topographic map of a local area. They go on a field trip to the depicted area and compare the 'real world' with their models.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Role Models

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create posters of heroes and present their findings and what they think it means to be a hero. In this role models lesson plan, 3rd graders compare heroes and describe their characteristics.
Lesson Plan
BBC

Local Democracy

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Expanding our students' understanding of government at a local level is a great way to build an understanding of government at a global level. Start the understanding by using any of these fun teaching ideas. Learners engage in several...
Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Natural Resources, and Human Uses of Plants and Animals

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
As part of their study of the restoration projects on Santa Cruz Island, class members demonstrate their understanding of the connections among plant life, animals, and the actions of humans by crafting a model that reveals these...
Unit Plan
Newspaper Association of America

Community Connections with Geography and the Newspaper

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
Understanding geography and government begins at the local level. Using maps and the parts of a newspaper, a unit plan introduces the concept of community. It starts with the creation of classroom and school maps, and then moves through...
Lesson Plan
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Library of Congress

Investigating the Building Blocks of Our Community’s Past, Present, and Future

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
As Ken Jennings said, "There's just something hypnotic about maps." Certainly, the longer you look at them the more you can learn. In this project-based learning lesson, individuals study both historic and present-day maps of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lines of Perception

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students interpret and comment on works in 1 and 2 point perspective. They locate the focal point of works done in 1 point perspective and create a drawing of a street or landscape in their local area using 1 point perspective.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A System of Rules

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students write letters, create models, create a photo display, and make charts about the rules that a state has. In this rules lesson plan, students learn about and make different displays of how states come up with rules, change them,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Use Over Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners view aerial photos and topographic maps of their local area. They compare and contrast major land use patterns over time by comparing these images to maps that are at least 50 years old. They analyze them using the four land use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Contribution to the Beautification of Parma

For Teachers 1st
First graders participate in beautification project in their local area. In this community service lesson, 1st graders plan and prepare a flower planting project for a low income area of their city. They practice arranging flowers in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kid City, USA

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
What a model community would look like? Get your kids talking with an activity that allows them to create their own town. After printing out a "fold out village," groups of learners use a variety of resources to help them build an actual...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change in My City

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the climate changes occurring locally, regionally and globally over the last one hundred years. They brainstorm and predict whether the current year's weather was warmer or colder than last year then check the...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Every Building Tells a Story

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Examine images from past that depict buildings and towns from their own communities, and compare images with photographs taken at present locations, interview local architect and compare role of 19th Century architect to 21st Century...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Habitat Fragmentation

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss the loss of animal habitats and the importance of refuge areas for them. They collect small pictures of animals found in their state and glue them to an outline of their state according to their range. Finally,...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

What Shape is That?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Each country or group of people has created special places of worship. Children read a story about religious buildings and architecture and then make clay models of the buildings they like the best. The lesson has been written to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Local Leaders and Why They Are Successful

For Teachers K - 12th
Students research local leaders and create a web page showcasing the leader.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bradford England

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore the locality and diversity of culture within the Bradford District of England. Through map activities and discussion, they identify the major forms of transport, people and places in the region. Students compare and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everything's Coming Up Roses: Creating Beautiful Areas in Your Neighborhood

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners study the history of Pennsylvania and the city beautification movement that originated in that state. In this community service lesson, students study the city beautification movement started by Mira Lloyd Dock. Learners make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling Our Writing Style After Another Author's Style

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students reread "The Senegalese Miracle" from a previous instructional activity. As they read, they must underline as many images related to their senses as possible and share their findings with the class. In partners, they practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walking Trail Adventure

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners identify local needs for recreational spaces by interviewing diverse classmates, families, and community members. They work in small groups to consider space needs and a possible place for installation. Students sketch, make a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning a Healthy City

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders create a scaled model city. They create a blueprint that provides for the economic and cultural needs of a community. They identify where essential elements of the city should be located and explain the rationale for the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Helping the Needy - What now?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students become familiar with local organizations from the four sectors of the economy that help the needy. In this service project lesson, students interview people from organizations that help the needy. Students explore the needs of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hero Within

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students interview a hero. In this heroes lesson, students read Number the Stars to begin a discussion about heroes and then create mind maps on each character. Students pick a local hero and interview them and then write a personal...