Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Navigating with the Kamal

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
Historians have proven that as early as 1497 skilled navigators were using a kamal to sail across oceans. Scholars learn about navigation tools and astronomy before building their own kamals. They then learn how to use it to determine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography Experience: Low Vision

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
The world is a big and beautiful place; but how do you begin to understand it when you have low vision? Here is a great set of ideas focused on transforming any small room into a sensory paradise, themed to incite understanding about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaders, Laborers, and Other Perspectives of World War II

For Teachers 10th - 11th
How did the women in France feel about their country’s involvement in World War II? Class groups are assigned a country involved in WWII, and individuals within the group adopt the point of view of leaders, laborers, businessmen, women,...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

How To Travel On Earth Without Getting Lost

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Take a virtual trip with a geography activity that uses longitude and latitude, the position of the sun, an astronomy app, and a classroom globe.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critical Literacy in the 21st Century

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students discover world geography by writing persuasive letters. In this literacy lesson, students discuss what percentage of children are illiterate in our country compared to other geographic locations. Students utilize writing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Hunger - A Cultural Crisis

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the problem of world hunger and starvation. After a class discussion, students use a map to identify specific areas where populations are starving. In groups, students research reasons for the lack of food. They prepare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Abigail Adams: Integrating Social Studies and Language Arts

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders increase reading strategies while learning about Abigail Adams and her role in history. In this Abigail Adams instructional activity, 3rd graders read about the American Revolution and Abigail Adams using all the balanced...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People Change the Landscape

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine ways in which humans have brought change to the natural environment. In this ecology and literacy lesson, students listen to the book Island Boy by Barbara Cooney. Students observe and define map-reading vocabulary as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Desert Alphabet Book

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore world geography by researching a science book with their classmates. In this desert identification activity, students utilize a U.S. map to locate the geographical locations of deserts. Students create an oral report...
Lesson Plan
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August House

The Archer and the Sun

For Teachers 1st - 2nd Standards
Reinforce reading comprehension with a instructional activity about The Archer and the Sun, a Chinese folktale. Kids learn some background information about Chinese culture before reading the story, and answer literacy...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

China - Where Will They Fit in the World Economy?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Teach scholars why China is so crucial to global economics through an informative resource. Activities include using databases to search for information, watching a video or listening to a podcast, and reading about China's economy as a...
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Far From Home

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A timely and provocative lesson inspires high schoolers to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis. They analyze a compelling photo essay before discussing and writing about it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Wedding Celebrations Around The World"

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders research the cultural implications of wedding celebrations around the world. They study wedding celebrations before creating world map on which they place an appropriately attired wedding couple on the country they studied....
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

The Ethics of Outsourcing to China

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
After viewing clips from a documentary on factory work in China and US outsourcing, learners have a fishbowl discussion. They work in groups to build both personal points of view and strong arguments on the effects of outsourcing in...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Sun Compass of the Vikings

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Evidence shows the Vikings likely navigated by using a simple sundial to find their course. Videos, a short story, and discussion help bring this time period to life as they study European history with a hands-on experiment. Scholars...
Lesson Plan
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Roald Dahl

Matilda - The Reader of Books

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
The titular Matilda from Roald Dahl's famous novel adored books above all things. Discuss why it is important to read stories from across cultures and around the world using the first chapter from the ever-loved story Matilda.
Lesson Plan
US Department of Education

Early Childhood: Five Themes of Geography

For Teachers Pre-K
Any preschool teacher would be thrilled to have a resource like this one. It includes activity ideas, discussion leads, book suggestions, and a glossary for learners ages 2 - 5. The entire booklet focuses on ways to teach young children...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Worldly Are You?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders locate and map six components to have a working knowledge of maps. In this map skills lesson, 6th graders define the six map components and work in groups to draw a map using the components. Students read a related...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Britannia Rule the Waves

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Could you determine longitude based on measuring time? Early explorers used a longitude clock to do just that. Scholars learn about early exploration and the importance of the invention of the clock. Then pupils build their own longitude...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What in Our World Affects the Way People Live

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study various maps that show geographical features and population. They compare the maps and make inferences about how various geographical features influence the population and human activities of an area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of Old England in the 1630s-Flat Me Project

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students write letters to penpals. In this geography/literacy lesson, students become penpals with a classroom in England to learn about customs and society across the ocean. Flat Stanley by Will Holton is read aloud, and students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

For Teachers K
Learn more about maps by examining Christopher Columbus's voyage to the New World. Kindergartners will learn about basic map skills and how to identify the compass rose, oceans, and land masses. They will also discover the purpose of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

But Where Is It On This Modern Map? A problem-solving, mind-boggling experience!

For Teachers 4th
Trace Columbus' voyages by locating them on 21st Century maps.  Using a navigators instructional activity, 4th graders will examine the Age of Exploration and trace Columbus's routes accurately on laminated world maps using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The World's Tallest Building

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate the world's tallest buildings. In this architecture lesson, students discover how humans change the physical environment. Students read about and view pictures of famous buildings in the world. Students make lists of...