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Postcards from California: A Unit on Geography, Social Studies, History and California's Resources
Fourth graders examine patterns that influence population density in the various regions of California. The unit's three lessons utilize graphic organizers for the interpretation and presentation of data.
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World Geography: Smart Cities
Students are able to analyze how a variety of cities both in the USA and abroad have worked to improve human health and environment. They combine their prior knowledge of previous lessons and apply that knowledge to compare how each...
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Maps as Models of Earth
Eighth graders use different types of maps to find locations and surface features. In this map-reading lesson students use a compass to find direction.
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Themes of Geography in the News Contest
Students discuss current events in the world today. After choosing one to focus on, they identify the themes of Geography present in them and practice using new vocabulary. They use the internet to find all of the themes present in...
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World Geography: Climate Change Round Table
Middle schoolers are able to explain the suspected causes of relatively recent climate changes, specifically the observed global warming. They discuss how unusual or extreme global warming disrupts the balance of the earth's geo-spheres.
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Guardians of the West
Eighth graders discover the role of American buffalo in Westward Expansion. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, 8th graders examine primary and secondary sources in order to create a cause and effect chart that features...
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Traveling on the Sea of Gold: An Adventure in Japan Through Literature
Students explore the geography and culture of Japan through the story "Sea of Gold" by Yoshiko Uchida. They draw a travel poster of Japan, label a map of Japan, use chopsticks to eat Cheerios, read and discuss various books about Japan,...
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Geography Journey
In this geography worksheet, students use a map of Amtrak train routes (not included) to answer 10 short answer questions. Students describe physical features and landmark cities they would see if traveling by train across the country.
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What is the Population Distribution of Cartoon Characters Living On the Pages of Your Newspaper?
Students read various cartoons in their local newspaper and calculate the population demographics, spatial distribution and grouping of the characters. Using this information, they create a population distribution map and share them with...
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Unit Plan Template
Use this U.S. History unit plan as a template for creating your own! Simply download the resource and edit the text fields with your own customized unit plan. This is a great jumping-off step, especially for newer teachers.
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Lesson 2: The Story of Flagstaff
Students, in groups, write and perform a skit that retells the story of the flooding of Flagstaff.
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Views of the American West: True or False?
Learners explain that a landscape painting may or may not accurately represent a specific place. They identify techniques that create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface.
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"I've Been Working on the Railroad" - Federal Land Grants and the Construction of the Illinois Central Railroad in Mid-nineteenth Century Illinois
Eleventh graders, in groups, design a self-sufficient community. Groups present the communities they've designed. They compare and contrast the communities presented. They research the theories of Johann Heinrich von Thunen online and...
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Science of War
Tenth graders, from an environmental perspective, study the pros and cons of war. Distinctions between characteristics of biological, chemical and nuclear threats and the impact of economic development are considered.
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Special Report: Flood of the Great River
Students work together in groups and role play the role of television crews. Using the internet, they research specific events of the Mississippi River flooding and report their findings to the class from different angles. They are to...
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W. Atlee Burpee and the "Seeds" of Becoming an Entrepreneur
Pupils research the components of W. Atlee Burpee's mail-order business. For this Pennsylvanian history lesson, students analyze three business components for Burpee's mail-order business. Pupils create a plan implementing the components.
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Investigating Our Place in the World
Students study the concept of geography in a year long unit. In this geography unit, students participate in different activities that explain the spatial sense of the world, the physical landmasses and bodies of water, geographic...
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A Readers' Theatre for Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Second graders read and perform a reader's theater version of the story, "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain." They complete a graphic organizer of cause and effect of their part in the story, look up vocabulary words on a dictionary...
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Teaching Fundamental Movement
Students perform fundamental movement activities for flexibility and motor skills. In this movement lesson plan, students perform physical activity for all grade levels.
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Arkansas History Lesson Plant One: Play-Do Soto
Fifth graders complete a variety of projects to learn about Arkansas history. In this Arkansas lesson plan, 5th graders go on a field trip to a state park, explore an Arkansas map, put play-dough on the trail of De Soto, color regions of...
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European Vacation
Ninth graders work in groups of two or three to plan a trip through Europe. They present a storyboard for approval, outlining their graphics and display pages. They present their trip to the class using PowerPoint. This is displayed...
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Scenario challenge
Fifth graders become familiar with the geography of New Hampshire and the importance of specific sites in history. In this New Hampshire lesson, 5th graders create a brochure including points of interest and showing distances...
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A Geopoem About Alaska
Sixth graders conduct Internet research on the physical and human characteristics of Alaska. They compose and write geopoems about the state of Alaska, using a template.
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States of Fitness
Young scholars participate in physical activities coordinating to divisions on a map.