Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Play Doh Map of Your State

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

Making the Connection With Quilts

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders engage in a lesson which integrates the study of the Underground Railroad in Indiana with a Language Arts unit on quilts. They write a book report on one of the quilt books read in class and design a quilt block for the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mother Culture of Mexico: The Olmecs

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the Olmec civilization. They develop a map of Mexico and a map of the area of the Olmec civilization. They research Olmec art, religion, and architecture. They construct Olmec symbols including giant heads, altars,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lake Tahoe Then and Now

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate the differences in Lake Tahoe from the past to the present. In this geography lesson plan, students read the book Washoe Seasons of Life and identify the descriptions of the land and lake. Young scholars create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Site and Situation: Right Place at the Right Time

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Asia's Global Influence

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore Hong Kong. In this geography skills lesson, students watch "Asia's Global Influence," and then research the culture, landmarks, and geographic features of Hong Kong. Middle schoolers use their research findings...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Intelligence

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the war in Afghanistan and the conditions surrounding the hunt for Osama bin Laden after reading the article "Bin Laden and Omar: Far Harder to Find" from The New York Times. After the class discussion, students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crossroads of the Continent: Early Trade in Kansas

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars study early Native American-European trade. They play bartering games to discover trade as an economic funtion, as well as other implications of trading one good for another.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You're Invited to a Ceili: Exploring Irish Dance

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students recognize a Ceili as an Irish dance of celebration and investigate Ireland while studying the dance.  In this Irish dance lesson plan, students search the geography of Ireland, read poetry, identify costumes, draw and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walk in My Shoes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discover how culture, geography and history affect how someone views an area of the world. They role play the role of a Palestinian, Jew or Briton and examine how they felt about Israel during its formation. To end the lesson,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Four Corners Mystery: Where In The World Are We?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research and describe various locations around the world using five fundamental themes of geography.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring China

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the geography, holidays, important teachers, and inventions from China in the nine lessons of this unit. The results of their inquiries are expressed through a variety of products, writings, and presentations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Putting the World in Perspective

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students work in small groups to: make a mental map of the world by tearing paper shapes of the seven continents and locating them on a flat surface in their relative positions, compare their finished mental map to a reference world map,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where We Live

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students forecast future population growth of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students explain the factors that influence population density on the U.S. Virgin Islands, including geography and economic activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hide and Seek with Geocaching

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students locate objects using a Global Positioning System. In this global geography lesson, students explore latitude and longitude using a GPS in order to locate objects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Equator

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate cultures located along the equator. In this geography skills lesson, students research the geography, history, culture, and tourism of Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Brazil, and Singapore. Learners write an article based...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping South America

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore South America. In this South American lesson, students use their geography skills to create population, terrain, biomes/vegetation, and major exports maps. Middle schoolers present their finished maps to their...