National Geographic
Mapping the Americas
Celebrate the geography of the Americas and develop map skills through a series of activities focused on the Western Hemisphere. Learners study everything from earthquakes and volcanoes of the Americas and the relationship between...
Curated OER
Americas: Physical Map
In this Americas physical map activity, students make note of the major landforms and bodies of water located on the North American and South American continents.
Curated OER
Welcome to the Americas
Students research and map the North and South American continents. In this geography lesson on the Americas, students can locate North, Central and South American countries and states. Students choose a location to research and prepare a...
Curated OER
The Exploration and Settlement of North America
Students locate place in Canada and explore highlights of early of early American exploration and settlement. In this North American history lesson plan, students locate provinces, major cities, and physical features of Canada. Students...
Curated OER
Colonial America and Roots of Government
Learners identify 50 States and the major geographic features, regions, and political representation of each. In connection, they investigate the causes and effects of European colonization on North America. They identify the formation...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuels (Part I), The Geology of Oil
Junior geologists work through three mini-lessons that familiarize them with the formation and location of fossil fuels. Part one involves reading about petroleum and where it comes from via a thorough set of handouts. A lab activity...
Curated OER
Neither Wind Nor Rain
Here is another in the interesting series of lessons that use the special State Quarters as a learning tool. This one uses the North Dakota State Quarter. During this lesson, your class learns about the different patterns of erosion, and...
University of Florida
Sailing to St. Augustine
Using a Florida map from 1597, young explorers consider the physical characteristics they would need in a site for a new colony and the resources they would need to survive. After selecting a site, class members research to discover the...
Curated OER
Pre-Columbian Cultures in the Americas
Native American studies is fun, educational, and highly motivating. Fifth graders will gain a deeper understanding of the six major pre-Columbian culture areas on the North American continent. They will choose one group and conduct...
Curated OER
Max Knows Mexicao, United States and Canada
Students utilize their map skills to explore the regions of North America. They explore the physical characteristics and climates of the regions. Students label their map and prepare a presentation of their findings.
Curated OER
Clothesline Sleuth
Fifth graders investigate the effect of North American colonization on human history. For this colonization lesson, 5th graders explore the global impact of colonization of North America. Students investigate the impact of geography on...
Curated OER
Antebellum North Carolina
Eighth graders examine pictures & documents relating to the Hayes Plantation (Edenton, NC). They also use various maps of North Carolina to help them analyze how James Cathcart Johnston used, modified and adapted to the physical...
Curated OER
Map Keys
Third graders examine maps and map keys. In this locating map features instructional activity, 3rd graders use crayons, markers and colored pencils to label maps. Students work in partners to read map keys and locate given places and...
Curated OER
World Map and Globe - Lesson 15 (K-3)
Young scholars discover mountain ranges and their locations in the world. In this physical map lesson plan, students locate and identify major mountain ranges of the world on a large physical map.
Curated OER
U.S. and Canada: How are We the Same? How are We Different?
Get high school geographers to compare and contrast Canada and the United States. They begin by drawing a freehand map of North America, then complete readings to gain insight into Canada. The text is not provided; however, another text...
Curated OER
North America Knowledge
Second graders move around a large map of the North America drawn on the playground. They follow the directions called out by the teacher. They may also develop their own tasks for other students to follow.
Curated OER
Rivers, Maps, and Math
Students use maps to locate and label the major rivers of North and South America. Using the internet, they identify forests, grasslands, mountain ranges and other landforms on the continents as well. They compare and contrast the...
Curated OER
Map Literacy
Students locate their home state on a map. They differentiate between physical and population sizes of states. In two groups, students "become" states with string for boundaries. They ascertain that area does not always equal large...
Curated OER
World Map and Globe - Lesson 15 Mountains of the World
Students locate major world mountain ranges. In this geography activity, students identify major mountain ranges on 6 on of the 7 continents on a large world physical map.
PHET
Where to See an Aurora
Where can you see an aurora in North America? After completing an astronomy activity, scholars can locate the exact coordinates. Pupils plot points of the inner and outer ring of the auroral oval and answer questions based on their...
California Academy of Science
Kinesthetic Astronomy: Earth's Rotation
After completing the activity, "Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Meaning of a Year," zoom in on Earth's rotation using the same simulation setup and this outline. Each class member dons a map of the Western Hemisphere and plays the part of...
Curated OER
World Map Labels
In this geography skills worksheet, students identify the countries and bodies of water labelled on the maps of the world, Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East, North America, Australia, and South America.
Curated OER
Directions, Directions
Third graders review cardinal directions, moving around the room so that they are standing in the part of the room that is nearest the north, south, east and west. They are asked what would you do if they are lost? Pupils work as a...
Curated OER
America Will Be
High schoolers work together to research and create different types of maps of the United States to be used as part of a geography trivia game.Groups research North American annual rainfall, climate, mountain ranges major rivers and...