Curated OER
Volcanoes
Second graders review the characteristics and aspects of volcanoes. Using this information, they write a creative story and draw illustrations to accompany the words. They use geographical terms to describe a location and the physical...
Curated OER
GPS Art
Middle schoolers design their own logo or picture and use a handheld GPS receiver to map it out. They write out a word or graphic on a field or playground, walk the path, and log GPS data. The results display their "art" on their GPS...
Curated OER
Estimating Distances
Students investigate distance measurement. In this middle school mathematics lesson, students find the average length of their pace and use their pace to measure various unknown distances in feet and miles. Students relate...
Curated OER
This Land is Your Land - Delaware
Students determine how land was divided and marked for boundaries in the early days of settlement in Delaware. Students mark out land on the playground according to the methods used by the early settlers. Students write a description of...
Curated OER
Plant Life of the Rainforest
Students study pictures of tropical rainforests and discuss its stratified character. Students then work with a partner to make a scale drawing of the rainforest strata.
Curated OER
Medieval Castles
Second graders design a scale model of a medieval castle and its surroundings including the following items: castle, moat, bailey, drawbridge, turrets, dungeon, grounds, and outer walls. A perfect instructional activity for those kids...
Curated OER
Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake
Students examine the frequency of earthquakes in Illinois. They discover the distribution of earthquakes in the Midwest. They also practice reading measurements from the Richter scale and Mercalli Intensity scale.
Curated OER
Science: Draining the Land - the Mississippi River
Students use topographic maps to identify parts of rivers. In addition, they discover gradient and predict changes in the channels caused by variations in water flow. Other activities include sketching a river model with a new channel...
Curated OER
Globe Lesson- The Revolutionary War
Students discover using globes. In this geography lesson, students use a globe to outline the original 13 colonies. Students also use a globe to measure the distance from London to New York City and determine how many days it would have...
Curated OER
Field Trip - San Francisco Bay Model
Students investigate scale models while attending a field trip within the San Francisco Bay Area. In this oceanography activity, students identify the currents of the Bay Area and discuss how they are created by different tides....
Curated OER
Searching the Attic
Students conduct field research, including the use of a grid system, in order to discover important or interesting family artifacts.They map discoveries of important artifacts on a grid map in order to track and better analyze...
Curated OER
Measuring Distance and Area in Satellite Images (College Level)
Students are able to download, install, and use Image J image analysis software to quantify change over time in satellite images. They access and download satellite images for specific locations and times. Students set a scale (spatial...
Curated OER
Charles Lindberghs's Flight to Paris
Students practice map skills. In this map skills lesson, students locate the cities of New York and Paris on a map. Students read about the flight made by Charles Lindbergh in May 1927 from New York to Paris. Students answer 8 questions...
Curated OER
In a Galaxy Far, Far, Far Away
Sixth graders compare distances between objects in the solar system. They investigate how light years are measured and when using them to measure how distances compare with one another. They write an essay exploring the possibility of...
Curated OER
Outlandish Landforms
Seventh graders examine landforms. In this world Geography activity, 7th graders research and create a physical model of a chosen landform. They then draw a 2-d paper map of that model.
Curated OER
World Cities and the Olympics
Students examine the various cities in which Olympics have been held. Using a map, they describe the reasons why those cities were chosen and choose their own city for the Olympics and state the reasons why. They examine information...
Curated OER
The Middle Ages
Students read books about the Middle Ages. They discuss characteristics of the Middle Ages. In groups, students construct a castle and draw a map to scale. Pupils create a Venn diagram comparing rules in different countries in the...
Curated OER
Striking Zone
Students review the states and their capitols. On the teachers signal, each student use their hand or a paddle to strike the ball in different ways towards the wall. When the ball hits a state, students recite the capitol of that state.
Curated OER
The Best Birthday Present Ever
Students view a PBS "In the Mix" video about smoking and identify cigarette ingredients, the physical effects of smoking and techniques used in tobacco advertising. They compose a letter persuading someone to quit smoking.
Curated OER
Earth Science: In Depth Look at Earthquakes
Students engage in an interactive Internet lesson covering the reasons and results of earthquakes. After reading eyewitness accounts and viewing animations, they use seismograms to measure and locate the epicenters. In an ongoing study,...
Curated OER
Guide Me "Home"
Learners find how freedom quilts helped free slaves. In this American History lesson plan, students read the story Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt and discuss the Underground Railroad. They use their map skills to...
Curated OER
A Phylogenetic Perspective for the Cladistically Challenged
Students use M&Ms to simulate radioactive decay of elements.
Curated OER
Castle Builder
Fifth graders discuss the importance of castles in medieval times. Using the internet, they research the parts of a castle and design their own using the components. They use everyday materials to build the castle to a specific scale.
Curated OER
Design-A-Room Project (Part 3 of 3)
Students culminate a unit on measurement with a focus on area and perimeter. They design a floor plan of their dream room on graph paper showing the proper area and perimeter. They plan the budget for their room and make a 3-D scale...