Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Features

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students identify natural features on a map. In this geography activity, students identify six physical features and create pictorial definitions for each term. The terms which are listed in this activity are mountain, hill, island,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taming the Mighty Dragon

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils incorporate the five themes of geography to study the Yangtze river region. They analyze the possible effects of the three rivers gorge damn project on this area and role play a float the entire length of this dangerous river...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Globe Skills Lesson 6 The Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the Louisiana Purchase territory. In this geography skills lesson, students use map skills in order to plot and note latitude and longitude, measure scale distance, and locate landforms that were part of the Louisiana...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Globe Skills Lesson 2: Paving the Way for Columbus

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Pupils explore the expedition of Christopher Columbus. In this geography skills lesson, students consider the technological advances that made Columbus's expedition possible as they complete a latitude and longitude activity.
Lesson Plan
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Globe Skills Lesson 7 The Transcontinental Railroad

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore the Transcontinental Railroad. In this geography skills lesson, students use map skills in order to locate legs of the Transcontinental Railroad on globes.
Lesson Plan
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North, South, East, or West

For Teachers K - 5th
Students participate in a game to learn cardinal directions. In this map skills lesson, students move around the room using cardinal directions.
Lesson Plan
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Continents of the Globe

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify the continents on the globe. In this map skills lesson, students define the term "continent" and identify the seven continents on the globe.
Lesson Plan
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Journeys...The Voices of Change

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students trace the immigration patterns of their ancestors. They plot information on a world map, develop a timeline of target immigration patterns, research and write a report on immigration and participate in a class play.
Lesson Plan
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Name That Town

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students explore geographic locations and locate towns on a map using map coordinates.
Lesson Plan
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Projects For USA Units

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study different regions of the United states through interdisciplinary activities. This lesson presents very creative, artistic ways for students to explore the variety of regions found in the United States.
Lesson Plan
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Using the Four Main Directions in the Classroom

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students use the four main directions to locate features in the classroom. In this direction instructional activity, students review the 4 main directions using a world map. Students use a magnetic compass to locate the north wall in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rockin' Round New York State

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discuss their favorite rock groups and bands. They create rock groups that will be touring New York State. Students research cities in New York, determine dates of concerts, create touring itineraries, and develop Inspiration...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Kind of Vessel Are You?

For Teachers K - 5th
This is a strange question; but what kind of vessel would you be and why? After examining images of a large Inca jug, the class sets to writing a creative narrative that answers that very interesting question. They start by researching...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Topographic Connections: Earth's Surface Shapes Streams; Streams Sculpt the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners identify physical characteristics of developing streams and infer changes in the landscape by creating a river model.
Lesson Plan
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Social Studies: Neighborhoods of the Future

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the present physical and human characteristics of their communities and predict their future appearance. In a two-paneled drawing, they depict their community as it is today and then imagine how it might change in the...
Lesson Plan
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Smithsonian Institution

Borders with the World: Mexican-American War and U.S. Southern Borderlands

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
The Mexican-American War created social borders—not just physical ones. Scholars learn about the effects of the Mexican-American War on the people living in the borderlands using text excerpts, maps, and partnered activities. Academics...
Lesson Plan
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Exploration of the Americas

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders demonstrate knowledge of exploration by naming and describing accomplishments of explorers. They use the internet to find corresponding information on the explorer and fill in a chart that is provided. Students also...
Lesson Plan
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A Passage Through Time

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young learners research and present information about a chosen subject to their peers, parents, instructors, and community. This lesson has a strong research and public speaking component, and would be ideal for your higher level students.
Lesson Plan
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Radio Program Disc 1, Track 6

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners place the Ohio river in its historical and geographical context. They listen to the radio stories, and are asked what postive and negative influences does the Ohio River have on nearby communities>
Lesson Plan
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From Sheep to Rug

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Ever wonder where wool comes from? How it is used to make a woven rug? Introduce the Native American craft of rug making to your preschool or kindergarten class with a discussion. Learners examine and discuss images of a Native American...
Lesson Plan
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Arc GIS Project: Visualizing the Holocaust

For Teachers 7th - 9th
A cross-curricular lesson for middle schoolers that covers language arts, social studies, geography, and math, this is a great extension activity if your class is reading The Diary of Anne Frank or learning about the Holocaust....
Lesson Plan
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Human Impacts on Major Rivers of the World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore motivations behind human intervention in the stream flow of selected rivers, infer kinds of interventions and their results, and evaluate level of success of such interventions of stream flow as well as environmental...
Lesson Plan
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The Tennessee River: The Tie That Binds

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the Tennessee River to see why it is still a major transportation artery in lieu of the age of modern transportation such as interstate highways, air cargo, and elaborate railway systems.
Lesson Plan
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The Fabric of Our World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss cultural diversity, and examine how the community reflects the cultural background of the inhabitants. They read the book, People, take a community walk, create a rainbow chart, and research other states for relocation...