Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Desert Alphabet Book

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students use a book to discover an interesting fact from the desert using each letter of the alphabet. Using a United States map, they identify the meanings of symbols and locate deserts within the U.S. In groups, they participate in...
Lesson Plan
Edgate

Discovering New Resources

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What is a natural resource, and what resources did the Lewis and Clark expedition seek? After reading an article on the mapping of the west, learners get into small groups to discuss the important natural resources of the period. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring our National Parks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students utilize maps/Atlases to find key spatial information, locate U.S. National Parks, characterize the geography of a specific region, and create a National Park brochure.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introducing Industries

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
If you are looking for a way to explore Michigan's resources, physical features, and more, this lesson is for you. After discussing Michigan and the Great Lakes, learners fill out a graphic organizer identifying the state's natural...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

A Day inthe Life of a San Francisco Native Animal

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Although the lesson plan is specifically about the San Francisco Bay area, it's good enough to be adapted to any local region. Children research what the landscape in San Francisco was like prior to settlement, they consider the types of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California Poppy Postcards

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
What a great lesson! Learners discuss California history, including the state flower, the poppy, and then engage in an art activity. For the activity, they learn about value, shading, layering, blending etc. to produce a realistic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Power of Maps & Native American Cultures

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discover where and how five Native American cultures lived in North America in what is currently the United States. They examine their way of life and the regions they inhabited. Additionally, 6th graders will understand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planting Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research crops grown in the United States. For this agriculture lesson, students identify various crops cultivated across the United States as they create charts and maps that note the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather in the USA

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars identify the different types of weather conditions that occur in the United States. They discover how to adapt to weather and explain forecast and warning signals.
PPT
Curated OER

The Geography of China

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Viewers will love this field trip to China, complete with information about China's economy, topography, geography, climate, and demographics. Maps and photos help to support the claims in the slides, especially in some interesting...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Searching the Net

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create a Native American Nation flip book. In this Native American lesson, students choose one of four Native American Nations: The Iroquois, Hopi, Seminoles, Sioux. They research them on the Internet using teacher given...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kansas Land

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover the geographic regions of Kansas. In this geography lesson, 4th graders explore the different regions of Kansas and determine how the different geography affects daily life in Kansas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rain Shadows and Sea Breezes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students plot the average rainfall for a variety of cities in the United States. Using the map, they work together to determine patterns on which toxicants are transported through the air. They determine the impacts of various weather...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Have All the Glaciers Gone?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine how climate change is affecting sea ice, vegetation and glaciers in the Arctic region.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Is That Place?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students choose a school in their state to compare their weather to. They also describe the differences between country, state, and a city. They can make flashcards to help them remember the important terms and concepts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Affects of Geography on Colonial Cultures

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the effects of geography on the development of culture. They discuss how geography can affect the lifestyles and development of a society's culture. Students examine the geography and climate of New England and the...
PPT
Curated OER

Early Russian History

For Teachers 10th - 12th
While not heavy in text, the vivid images, maps, and key information in this slide show, are sure to hold an audience. They'll view images of geography, buildings, and people who are apart of early Russian History. Use the presentation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

End of the Line: What Happened to the Blue Ridge Railroad?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the westward expansion and the role of railroad construction to the expansion. In this railroad history lesson, 6th graders complete KWL activity for the topic. Students view a PowerPoint about the growth of railroads...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dark Days on the Prairie

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore U.S. geography by researching agriculture. For this dust bowl lesson, students complete a cause and effect worksheet based upon the dust bowls that covered a large portion of Oklahoma and Texas in the early 1900's....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wow! You're Eating Geography

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine patterns of food producing areas, and identify foods that are grown locally, in the U.S., and around the world. They map and graph the major food crops of their local area, the U.S., and other countries, and discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Change Happens

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders engage in a lesson to find information about the natural history of Puerto Rico. They practice using a variety of resources for research purposes. The same process of research is used for state of Wisconsin. Then students...
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

Discovering Places & Regions

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research physical and cultural features of a place. They practice skills in gathering information from various sources, using tools such as graphic organizers, word processing, multimedia, and use of the Internet.