Lesson Plan
Curated OER

5 Themes Awareness of Current Event Issues

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners identify the 5 themes of geography as being location, place, human-environmental interaction, movement and region. They explain a current event from the perspective of each theme and their interrelationship..
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sands of Arabia

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders apply geographic information to the study of World History.  In this Geography lesson plan, 6th graders create a political/physical map of the Middle East, develop questions and answers about the culture of the Middle...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trading Information

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a trading card about a state bordering the Mississippi River. Using traditional and internet research, students generate a list of interesting facts about their chosen state using the five themes of geography. They use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Agriculture

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars make inferences on how physical geography affected the development of early civilizations and come up with solutions to global issues. In this physical geography lesson plan, students compare maps of the past to maps of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outlandish Landforms

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine landforms. For this world Geography lesson, 7th graders research and create a physical model of a chosen landform. They then draw a 2-d paper map of that model.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Injustice on Our Plates: Immigrant Women

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the plight of undocumented workers. In this social justice lesson, students research undocumented workers as well as consumer boycott movements and write about their impressions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Emerald Necklace: Boston's Green Connection

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This lesson could be used in U.S. history, social studies, and geography courses in units on urban expansion in the late 19th century or city planning.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Battle of Glorieta Pass: A Shattered Dream

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This lesson can be used in American history, social studies, and geography courses in units on westward expansion and the Civil War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geographical Background on the Valley of Virginia

For Teachers 4th - 5th
In this social studies worksheet, students learn the geography of the Valley of Virginia (Shenandoah Valley) by reading the information and using the word bank of place names to label a detailed map.
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Guess That Spice

For Teachers 1st - 7th Standards
From medical treatments to cooking, people have been using herbs and spices for thousands of years. Perform a blind smell test of household herbs and spices to engage students in learning about ancient spice trading. Research the history...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies and Children's Literature

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students write a journal in response to literature. The story that is read is about prairies. The subject of prairies becomes an object for research. The culminating activity is the making of a map where prairies exist in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies For Elementary School

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders become familar with maps and work in groups to get an overview of what Europe is like. The real assignment is in the form of students creating their own trip if it could really be taken.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Desert Alphabet Book

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore world geography by researching a science book with their classmates. In this desert identification lesson, students utilize a U.S. map to locate the geographical locations of deserts. Students create an oral report based...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

GANDHI'S INDIA

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students describe key events in the life of Gandhi. They determine why knowledge of geography is necessary to understand the history of the people in a place or region. They write a summary of how the events in Gandhi's life,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Safari

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine different countries in Africa to research. They choose one to concentrate their research on using the five themes of geography. They design a multimedia presentation that will make up the African safari.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nile: A Gift to Egypt

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discover the Egyptian culture. In this Nile River instructional activity, 6th graders examine why the river is so important to Egypt.Students study the religions, geography and the people of Egypt. Students create an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Play Doh Map of Your State

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students create a state map using Playdoh. In this hands-on state geography lesson plan, students work in groups to form a three-dimensional  map of their state using Playdoh made at home following a (given) recipe. Students use...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tough Nut to Crack

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore agriculture by examining world geography. In this pecan cultivation lesson, 6th graders identify the history of the famous nut and the impact it has on the U.S. economy, diet and human body. Students define...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The High and the Flighty

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study women aviators and act out a talk show-style interview with one of them. They plot Amelia Earhart's flights on a map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Effects of Limited Space on a Culture

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars predict the impact of population density on shelter, transportation, recreation, land use, and social skills and then research that impact on Japan. They write a response about the impact of population density on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Ticket to Japan

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover similarities and differences in the lifestyles and geography of Utah and Japan. They use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast daily life and geography in Utah with daily life and geography in Japan. They make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baseball the National Pastime of the Dominican Republic

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine how the game of baseball has played a significant role in shaping the culture of the Dominican Republic. They analyze a world map, and read and discuss an informational handout. Students can then create a sports...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Brrrr! Expeditions to the North and South Poles

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars examine the first successful explorations of the North and South Poles, through a study of the four men who accomplished them. They present the fruits of their research on posters, or with PowerPoint presentations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars read about and discuss the fifty-three recommended travel destinations for 2008 from the Travel section of The New York Times. They list three places they would each like to visit, read and discuss the news article, and...