Students observe the various physical and man-made features that they pass on the route they take on their way home from school. They sketch the features before drawing and labeling a map of the route. They share the maps with other...

Students interpret aerial photographs. They view aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify physical and human features. They study satellite images and label their images for bodies of water, clouds,...

Put your students' map skills to the test with this engaging cross-curricular project. Given the task of developing new hiking trails for their local community, young cartographers must map out beginner and intermediate...

People could take a page in ingenuity and survival from the Powhatans. Deer skins became clothes, and the members of the Native American group farmed the rich Virginia soil and hunted in its forests for food. Using images of artifacts...

Let your senses be your lead. Pairs of pupils blindfold their partners and then lead them around nature areas. They use their senses to find landmarks and create maps with their findings. Once they create their maps, they go back to the...

Heat things up in your earth science class with this collaborative instructional activity on volcanoes. After first being introduced to the different types of volcanoes and how they are formed, young geologists work in small...

Here is an activity that merges technology with life skills as individuals use Google Earth to explore the differences between coordinate systems and map projections. The self-guided worksheet is the fourth segment in a nine-part unit....

In 1980, in the tropical rainforests of Panama, scientists discovered 1,200 species of beetles living in and around just 19 trees, with most of the species new to science—that's biodiversity! In the activity, learners work in teams to...

The last activity in a nine-part series has teams create a Google Earth map using the data they collected during a field trip. Using the map, groups analyze the results and make adjustments to the map to reflect their analysis. A short...

The Path to Women's Suffrage unit focuses on how Western Expansion was instrumental in gaining women the right to vote through the Nineteenth Amendment. Young historians analyze maps, examine primary source documents, and create a...

Lewis and Clark's famous expedition is a prime example of the United States' westward expansion. Aspiring historians examine maps from Lewis and Clark's journey, as well as discuss their interactions with Native American tribes. The...

Long before the civil rights movement, leaders were working to secure equal rights. An informative activity explains the 1922 anti-lynching campaign with a map. Scholars analyze the map, complete a worksheet, and participate in group...

Blow the roof off your classroom with this multimedia science lesson plan on volcanic eruptions. A short online video teaches young geologists about shield and composite volcanoes and explores the examples of Kilauea and Mt....

Students examine and calculate the percentage of potable water remaining on the earth. In this ecology and geography lesson, students brainstorm the main factors affecting water distribution. Students use mathematical problem solving to...

Fourth graders define vocabulary and locate physical features on maps.  In this mapping lesson, 4th graders explore regions of Arizona through landforms found on topographic maps.  Students research the history and culture of...

Students perform fundamental movement activities for flexibility and motor skills. In this movement lesson plan, students perform physical activity for all grade levels.

Students put their geography skills to work. In this geography skills lesson, students research maps and other primary and secondary sources to simulate the site selection process for the Pennsylvania Railroad Shops post World War II....

Fourth graders recognize that ethnicity, religion and geography are reflected in the food choices we make. In this food choices lesson, 4th graders discuss different types of food from different places. Students compare a menu to the...

Students explore South America. In this South American lesson, students use their geography skills to create population, terrain, biomes/vegetation, and major exports maps. Students present their finished maps to their classmates and...

Students explore world geography by completing graphic organizers and researching the Internet. In this Kalahari desert lesson, students identify the geographic location, weather and creation of the Kalahari desert. Students define a...

Fourth graders research the physical characteristics of the four regions of the United States. In this geography lesson plan, 4th graders research the four regions and use a quilt square organizer to record notes. Students complete the...

Students research about human migration during a specific time period. In this physical science lesson, students watch a video about human evolution. They prepare a presentation on human migration and share it with the class.

After viewing a teacher-led demonstration on a variety of landforms of the Earth, 1st graders create an Earth book. This nicely-done hands-on lesson has students produce books that describe, in pictures and words, different aspects of...

Students research a coastal community, locate it on a map and profile its physical, geography, climate, architecture and cultural characteristics. They envision this coastal community and make a detailed drawing of it by blending...