Curated OER
Mapping Our Home
Students explore how communities participate in census counting. In this census lesson, students recognize the absolute and relative location of a state and understand ideas about civic life and government.
Curated OER
Mapping the Census
Students learn why the census makes a difference. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students learn the key elements of cartography, examine the difference between data and their representation, and create a map using census data.
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Denali Park Topographic Maps
Middle schoolers construct a topographic map of the Denali National Park. They identify different elevations and record historic landmarks in student science journals.
Curated OER
Direction of River Flow
Students determine the direction the river flows. They use a US map with rivers listed, colored pencils and a compass or transparency with directions marked. Students use a color key to determine which direction the river is flowing...
Curated OER
Basic U.S. Geography
Provide your 11th graders with a basic understanding of U.S. Geography. They label the state, regions, and boundaries found in the contiguous U.S. as well as Hawaii and Alaska. Then, they complete two Internet related activities.
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Lesson 2: Mapping Our Home
Students recognize the importance of community participation in the census. In this U. S. Census lesson plan, students use map-reading skills to find answers and learn the difference between senators and members of Congress.
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Establishing Borders: The Expansion of the United States 1846-48
Students investigate how the United States acquired land after the Revolutionary War ended. In this establishing borders instructional activity, students use maps to identify territories acquired by the US and the states that later...
Curated OER
Map Creation
Second graders identify a map, symbol, key, and compass rose. Students create and print a map for teacher evaluation using the computer. Students identify the symbols on their map and orally present them to the class.
Curated OER
The Mussels Are Coming
Students work together to identify and describe the various types of mussels. Using a color-coded system, they plot the arrival date of zebra mussels in North American waters. They discuss the increase in their population with the class.
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Civil War and Reconstruction
Students examine the differences between the North and South during the pre-Civil War era. In this Civil War era lesson plan, students spent 7 days looking at things that were different between the Union and Confederate state before the...
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Create a Story May
First graders review the terms characters, setting and events in stories. They are shown how to access the Kidspiration Map, and how to add pictures in the correct spaces on the map. Students insert pictures in the map of the story...
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Salt Relief Map of Virginia
Fourth graders create a salt relief map of the four regions of Virginia. They indentify land forms and bodies of water, and summarize how they made their project.
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Exploration Watershed
Students discuss what a watershed is, and locate watersheds on a map. In this watershed lesson, students use the information they have been introduced to and create a color coded watershed map of their own.
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Nature and Place Names in Arkansas
Middle schoolers examine the way that many place names in Arkansas came to be. By looking at Arkansas highway maps, they find names that come from the characteristics of each of the state's six geographical divisions. This interesting...
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Regions of Virginia
In this geography worksheet, 5th graders identify the regions of the state of Virginia and sort them according to location. Then 10 questions focus upon the specifics of different regions.
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Tallahassee Project
Sixth graders gather information from technological sources such as TV, radio, and Internet as well as from newspapers and maps and produce a final printed report. They use the data to create a spreadsheet and read a Florida state...
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Weather Patterns and Acid Rain (or What is Chicago's acid rain doing in the Adirondacks?)
Young scholars examine a color-coded map of U.S. acid rain precipitation intensity. Using EPA data table and the blank U.S. map, they record state-by-state values for magnitude of emissions and compare areas of emissions to areas with...
Curated OER
OPEC and the Energy Crisis
Students color the Middle East Nations of OPEC on outline maps. They discuss and watch a video about the United States reliance on oil producing nations of the Middle East. They participate in a discussion of the problems of the gas...
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Mapping Your Neighborhood
Students define and outline their neighborhoods using GIS (geographic information systems) or a regional map and relate their neighborhoods to the principles of Smart Growth.
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Coast to Coast Virtual Trip
Students complete a variety of exercises and activities as they plan a coast to coast trip across America. They keep a journal that includes where they went, what they did, what they saw, etc. They compare two cities they visited along...
Curated OER
Communities
Pupils are introduced to the concept of communities. Using a map, they locate and describe different communities of all sizes. They watch a video and answer questions on a worksheet to complete the activity.
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Indian Trust Lands
An important aspect of studying Native American history is understanding the nature of trust lands. Budding historians will learn that as Native Americans were removed from their home lands, trust lands were provided in the form of...
Curated OER
Where Does It Come From?
Students explore where agricultural commodities used in snack foods are grown. They choose a snack food and locate the top five states that produce the food that the snack is made from.
National Wildlife Federation
I’ve Got the POWER Wind Energy Potential at Your School
The 20th lesson in a 21-part series connects the wind data and expectations of a turbine to whether such devices should be built in your area. Scholars begin with estimating the wind potential at school by using long-term climate data...