Curated OER
Where's the Sand?
Students identify the characteristics of deserts. In this geography lesson plan, students discuss the characteristics of a desert and label a map with the names of deserts.
Curated OER
Mapping a Garden
Second graders recognize the components of a map, particularly the legend, the key, the symbols and the area. They develop their own map of a garden they be planting in their upcoming science lesson plan.
Curated OER
U.S. History: What Happened Here?
Students apply the global positioning system to create maps of local historical sites. By collaborating with local historical groups, they research events and relate them to broader, national history. In addition to writing essays...
Curated OER
Maize to Maquiladoras: Movement from Mexico to Arizona
Fourth graders label maps of Arizona and Mexico to show the people, goods, and ideas that have moved between the two places. In this Arizona and Mexico lesson plan, 4th graders summarize the effects of the movement on Arizona life.
Curated OER
Grades 6-8 Lesson Plan - Cities as Transportation Centers
Middle schoolers examine maps of the 1800's and 1900's. In this geography skills lesson, students collaborate to read core maps and identify transportation centers and travel networks.
Curated OER
Finding Their New World
First graders place stickers on maps indicating their understanding of the cardinal directions. They locate Jamestown, England, the Atlantic, and Virginia.
Curated OER
Climb a Mountain, Raft a River on Your Own Land
Students are introduced to the characteristics of a map. As a class, they discuss the uses of public lands in their community and develop symbols for each feature. They use the symbols to create a map showing the recreational uses of...
Curated OER
Globe Skills Lesson 1 Some Early American Cultures
Middle schoolers apply their knowledge of geography. In this geography skills lesson, students read brief selections regarding early Americans. Middle schoolers respond to the questions included in the self-guided map skills lesson.
Curated OER
What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle.
Curated OER
Homes Around the World
Students investigate houses and homes from around the world and create a map collage. They compare how the homes are similar and different and why houses match the weather and geography.
Curated OER
Go Bananas! (Lesson One)
Young scholars research the historical and present movements of bananas. Using maps, they locate the countries in which the fruit is grown and identify common characteristics between the banana-growing countries. They also trace the...
Curated OER
Utah History & Geography
Fourth graders calculate and determine the distances between counties in Utah. Using a map of Utah, they determine the distance between three county seats, the total distance round trip, and label a map with the distances.
Curated OER
Globe Skills Lesson 8 Dust Bowl Travelers
Students develop their globe and map skills, In this geography lesson, students examine the Dust Bowl as they complete an activity that requires them to plot latitude and longitude.
Curated OER
Globe Lesson 4 - Intermediate Directions
Students explore the concept of intermediate directions. In this geography skills lesson, students use map skills in order to identify intermediate directions as they complete a map activity.
Curated OER
Globe Skills Lesson 4 The Colonial Period
Learners practice their map skills. In this Colonial geography instructional activity, students complete an activity that requires them to locate English colonial locations using latitude and longitude coordinates.
Curated OER
What in the World?
Eighth graders plot points of longitude and latitude on a world map. In groups, they create a model of the earth's interior and label the parts,
Curated OER
Underground Rails: The New York City Subway System
Students explore the New York Subway system. They investigate its usefulness as mode of transportation for the people in the city and study its history compared to other city subway systems. They examine how the subway connects the...
Curated OER
Eastern Europe: Passport to Understanding
Seventh graders explore Eastern Europe. They analyze data on select countries. Students prepare a short oral presentation on the country they researched. They locate their country using an interactive map.
Curated OER
Flat Earth Society
Students explore map distortion. In this geography lesson, students compare Mercator projection maps to globes in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of projection maps.
Curated OER
Using Four Main Directions in the Classroom
Young scholars identify the four cardinal directions. In this map skills geography lesson, students use a magnetic compass to label the four directions in the classroom. Young scholars use the four directions to locate objects in the...
Curated OER
Natural Features
Students identify natural features on a map. In this map skill activity, students use a landscape picture map to identify mountains, hills, islands, lakes, and rivers. Students use post-it notes to demonstrate their location.
Curated OER
The Physical Geography of Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica
Students access information from the United States Geological Survey's Web site This Dynamic Earth to research the Ring of Fire. They answer four questions and then apply what they have learned to create a bulletin board display.
Curated OER
Colonial Vacation Planner
Students plan a family vacation to states that were among the original 13 colonies. The groups determine which state they visit, map their route, calculate the mileage, and determine how much money they spend on gasoline.
Curated OER
Europe at Exploration 1500
In this world empires and trade in 1500 worksheet, students examine a world empire map, world trade map, and Europe map. All maps display information from 1500.