Curated OER
Flag Folding
Students study the effects of combining, subdividing, and changing basic shapes to figure out the official method for folding the US flag. They complete a prediction sheet to determine how to get the flag folded so that only the blue...
Curated OER
Forces That Shape the Earth: Plate Movement
In this tectonic plate learning exercise, students learn about the movement of the plates that make up the earth's crust. They read about the Theory of Pangaea, lithosphere, divergence, convergence, and plate transformation. Students...
Curated OER
Pangaea Puzzle: Exploring the Tectonic Forces That Shape the Earth
Sixth graders follow in the footsteps of early scientists as they put the pieces of Pangaea back together and discovered the forces that create the variety of landforms and sea-floor features of our Earth.
Curated OER
Introduction to the World Globe
Students examine a globe and the world map to see what constitutes the differences. In this world map introductory lesson, students discuss what they see when they view the globe. Students then, look at a world map and compare the...
Curated OER
Welcome to My World!
Second graders increase their usage of maps and understand how maps are important in their lives. Students define what an atlas is, and to enforce the students' definition of what an atlas is, they also make their own atlas.
World Maps Online
Introduction to the World Map
Learners identify the differences between maps and globes. For this map skills instructional activity, students are shown a globe and a map and recognize the differences. Learners use post-it notes to locate several locations on the...
Curated OER
Characteristics of Africa
Learners describe basic land features and characteristics that make up the continent of Africa, describe the people of Africa, where they live, and how they live and get a sense of what it is like to live in Africa.
Compton Unified School District
How Can We Locate Places?
How can we locate places? Maps, of course! Expose second graders to the tools available in maps and discuss how these tools can help people find locations. Students also look at communities, including what makes a community and the...
August House
Go to Sleep, Gecko!
A cute folktale from Bali tells the story of Gecko, Elephant, and Buffalo, and Gecko's struggle to sleep. After reading Go to Sleep, Gecko, learners focus on comprehension questions, singing and learning about geckos, building a house...
Curated OER
Mazes - Help the Zebra Avoid the Lion
In this maze worksheet, students help the zebra find its herd and avoid the lion by working their way through a maze that is shaped like the continent of Africa. They see pictures of zebras on the outside of the maze and a lion in the...
Curated OER
Toco Toucan - Oil Pastels
Students create a picture of a toucan from the continent of South America using a pencil, marker, and oil pastels. Students identify the continent of South America and discuss the Toco Toucan. They follow teacher directions to create...
Curated OER
Pangaea Puzzle Pieces
Young scholars i examine 10 pieces of evidence for the Pangaea theory and use them to reconstruct the super continent. They determine that land masses on Earth are slowly changing shape as a result of moving for millions of years.
Curated OER
The Colonization of Liberia
Students analyze how slavery shaped social and economic life in the South. They study methods of passive and active resistance to slavery, and the similarities and differences between African-American and white abolitionists.
Curated OER
Our Changing View of the Earth
Students explore the theory of Plate Tectonics. They participate in a simulation in which they re-enact the debate over Plate Tectonics vs. traditional beliefs of stationary continents that were widely accepted during the 1800's and...
Curated OER
Celebrating Ancestors
Students participate in a "hands-on" activity, to explain that African masks were and are more than aesthetic artifacts, they are functional implements of the many cultures of the African continent.
Curated OER
African Mask
Young scholars make masks. In this African art lesson plan, students review background information about African art and the use of masks. Young scholars use geometric shapes and other designs to create their masks.
Curated OER
Map Making
Students use a tennis ball and paper to construct a student-made globe. They sketch in continents and major map features and then compare a flat map to a globe.
Curated OER
The Gifts of the Nile
Get your class thinking about the geography that shaped the Egyptian landscape and culture. They compare ancient climate zones and geogrpahical fetures, locate evidence of plate tectonics, take and quiz, and write a short essay. The...
Curated OER
Ecology And the Conservation of Natural Resources
Students study Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift and how the continents were connected in one large land mass called Pangaea. They examine plate tectonics and the theory that the earth's surface is composed of large moving...
Curated OER
Plate Tectonic Cycle
Learners explore the Earth's movements by completing worksheets. In this plate tectonics instructional activity, students define such natural disasters as volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and mudslides and discuss their connections to...
Curated OER
Island Formation
Students create models of how islands are formed by hot spots and then write a summary of their observations and of how they think their model relates to volcanic hot spots and island formation.
Curated OER
Reading the Shapes of Volcanoes on Earth and Mars
Students compare and contrast the volcanoes of Earth and Mars, and examine specific volcanoes on Mars. They model the processes that create cone and shield volcanoes, and measure the slope angles of cone and shield volcanoes.
Curated OER
Antarctica
Third graders become familiar with Antarctica, the Earth's southernmost continent, by researching its environment and inhabitants. They reference maps, conduct Internet research, identify animals, create graphs and write reports.
Curated OER
School Day: South Africa
Students explore a student protest in South Africa. They observe a film about life in South Africa. Students consider how the image of South Africa is shaped by the media. Students roleplay interviewing African children.