National Park Service
Leave it to Beavers
Many people know cats mark their territories by rubbing the back of their necks to leave a scent, but not many people know beavers also leave a scent to mark their territories. During the first activity of two, scholars use their noses...
Curated OER
Real World Investigation- Math and Geography- Elevation Changes
In this math and geography real world investigation, 6th graders plan a driving trip to a city that is located several states away from their home while recording the elevations of three cities that are included in the trip. They use...
Curated OER
USA States and Capitals
Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by completing a map identification activity. In this states and capitals lesson, 5th graders examine a map of all 50 U.S. states and identify them as well as their capital cities. Students are...
Curated OER
U.S. States - The Midwest States
In this geography and math worksheet, students complete the simple addition equations and match the sums to the colors. Students then color the Midwest States by the color code.
Curated OER
Popcorn Geography
Students use kernels to create a "Top Corn-Producing States" map or graph. They read and round off numbers. Students identify on a U.S. outline map the location of corn-growing states. They create a visual (map or graph) illustration...
Curated OER
Traveling Cat Flown Home to Family
Students locate Wisconsin and Belgium on a world map, then read a news article about a cat that stowed away on ship from the U.S. to Europe. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with map and vocabulary...
Curated OER
Immigration: Marijana's Story
Second graders explore world geography by researching U.S. history. In this immigration instructional activity, 2nd graders read the book Marijana's Story and discuss the main character, her goals, and the plot. Students complete a...
Curated OER
Making a Report to President Washington
Learners gain an understanding of some of the challenges the U.S. faced at its birth. They are asked to compose a report on the state of the nation in 1790 (addressed to President George Washington), which includes a narrative, maps and...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
A Geography Lesson
Fewer and fewer people have a strong grasp of world geography, but this activity helps students understand geopolitics by creating their own original historical map. The activity requires selecting a country from the list provided,...
Curated OER
We Flip for Quarters!
Flip-books which represent one of five states are created by your class in this art and geography instructional activity. All of the materials for the flip-books are embedded in this inventive plan. They will make a book for: Kentucky,...
Curated OER
Culture Regions of the U.S.
Young scholars identify the location of different cultural groups within the United States (agricultural, retirement, urban, etc.) They map these areas and analyze the correlation between the landscape of a given region and the type of...
Curated OER
Our Country's Geography
Third graders study geography. In this United States landforms lesson, 3rd graders create a map of the U.S. made out of dough. They use various edible treats to mark the country's capital, the plains, the mountains and the rivers &...
National Park Service
News Bearly Fit to Print
There are an average of three human fatalities by bears in North America every year, which is low when you compare it to the 26 killed by dogs and the 90 killed by lightning annually. The lesson encourages researching human-bear...
Curated OER
Landmarks of the Underground Railroad
Students explore Civil Rights by reading several books in class. In this Underground Railroad instructional activity, students discuss The Story of Henry Box Brown and identify the location and functionality of the Underground Railroad....
Curated OER
Geography: Intro to Canada
Students investigate the geography of Canada by analyzing a map of the country. In this North American geography lesson, students identify the 13 provinces of Canada and their locations by examining a Canadian map. Students may use...
Curated OER
Geography Postcard Podcasting
Students complete a geography postcard activity using Podcasting. In this geography instructional activity, students research landforms and climates of various U.S. and Canadian regions. Students write a description of their travles in...
Curated OER
A "Boring" Lesson in Geography
Young geographers will enjoy this entertaining instructional activity on maps. You choose ten of the unusual town names that your students found and provide activities that challenge your charges to apply their newfound geography skills....
Curated OER
The Crash Scene
Fifth graders explore geography by participating in a mapping activity. In this engineering instructional activity, 5th graders identify the differences between latitude and longitude and practice locating precise points on a globe or...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
One Land, Many Trails: English Language Development Lessons (Theme 5)
English is not the only subject that requires its own set of vocabulary words—geography does too! A series of language development lessons designed to be used with Theme 5: One Land, Many Trails helps introduce readers to key vocabulary...
Curated OER
Mapping Martin Luther King Jr.
Young scholars examine geographic locations that were important in Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. They research Martin Luther King Jr., and create U.S. maps that show the locations important to him.
Curated OER
States with Attitude, Latitude and Longitude Dude
Sixth graders identify states whose boundaries are formed by lines of latitude and longitude or natural borders such as rivers. They trace a map of the U.S., and fill in borders, rivers and lines of latitude and longitude.
Curated OER
What State Are You In?
Students identify the major U.S. cities. In this U.S. geography lesson, students work in pairs and use game cards to name various cities in the United States.
Curated OER
Defining moments from the past with lessons for a post-9/11 world...
Students examine extension ideas concerning 9/11, Defining Moments. They analyze a variety of Supreme Court cases, the U.S. Constitution, Mass Media Interpretations, Racism, Immigrant groups and U.S. geography. Many questions are asked...
Curated OER
The U.S. Recognition of the State of Israel
Students research the political aspects of the U.S. position in the Middle East, considering, for example, Truman's position in view of the 1948 presidential election. They examine a telegram sent by the Secretary of State, George C....