Curated OER
Maps and Globes: Where in the World are We?
Students explore maps and globes. In this introduction to map and globe concepts lesson, students identify features of physical maps, political maps, and globes. Students locate land and water, and recite a poem about the names of the...
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Fairy Tale Maps
Students study direction as they listen to the stories of Little Red Riding Hood and The Jolly Postman. In this cardinal direction lesson, learners create a map to show the path Little Red Riding Hood took in the story and label the path...
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Map Adventures
Students explore the relationship between a scale drawing and actual distance. For this mapping lesson, students use an amusement park map to determine distances and what they would be like in real life.
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Understanding: Geography
Students explore their neighborhoods. In this geography lesson, students make a map of their neighborhood. They must include a key, natural terrain, buildings and streets. They also write a descriptive paragraph about their neighborhood.
World Maps Online
Introduction to the World Map
Students identify the differences between maps and globes. In this map skills instructional activity, students are shown a globe and a map and recognize the differences. Students use post-it notes to locate several locations on the world...
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Musical Plates-Earthquakes
In this plotting earthquake data worksheet, middle schoolers use a large world map and given web sites showing the latitude and longitude for the epicenter of recent earthquakes around the world. Students plot 2 weeks of earthquake data...
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United States Map- Map Legend/City Symbols
Students investigate the United States map. In this map skills geography lesson, students explore city symbols on the map legend and identify them. Students use post-it notes to mark various symbols.
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People Change the Landscape
Learners examine ways in which humans have brought change to the natural environment. In this ecology and literacy activity, students listen to the book Island Boy by Barbara Cooney. Learners observe and define map-reading vocabulary as...
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And a Star to Steer Her By: A Field Trip Guide for the Planetarium Show
In this field trip study guide for the planetarium show lesson, students construct a model of the Earth and describe the relative positions of the continents using latitude and longitude. Students construct a star chart to find...
Curated OER
Investigating Latitude and Longitude
Students examine the lines of latitude and longitude on a map, and explain why these lines might be useful. For this lesson students also explore websites that provide information to improve their understanding of how and why latitude...
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Weather With a Latitude
Young scholars read the temperature from a thermometer. In this weather lesson, students read a thermometer and record the temperature at twenty minute intervals. Young scholars discuss results.
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Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...
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"Yarning" About Latitude and Longitude
Students identify various locations using latitude and longitude. In this map skills lesson, students use yarn and labels to create a "human globe." Students identify the Prime Meridian, the Equator, and Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
Curated OER
Geography Puzzles
Students study the continents of the world. In this Internet geography instructional activity, students connect to online mapping games. Students collaborate in order to develop their understanding of world geography, including countries...
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Hide and Seek with Geocaching
Students locate objects using a Global Positioning System. In this global geography lesson, students explore latitude and longitude using a GPS in order to locate objects.
Curated OER
Mapping Perceptions
Students create and read maps. In this map skills lesson, students draw a map of their neighborhood, then use skills acquired during map-making to interpret a classmates map and a map of the Ming Dynasty.
Curated OER
Spherical Geometry: A Global Perspective
Learners investigate spherical geometry using a globe and an apple. In this spherical geometry lesson plan, students translate Euclidean geometry terms to spherical geometry terms using a globe. They answer 3 questions about spherical...
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Longitude-Dava Sobel
In this longitude worksheet, students read about how to determine the longitude of location while at sea and they answer 5 questions about calculating longitude.
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A View from the Ground
Students look at a park from ground perspective. In this map skills lesson, students are introduced to a story about a girl at a park and make observations about the park based on a picture. This prepares students for the next lesson in...
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Make Your Map
In this map making worksheet, students make their own maps, draw symbols and place them in the map key area, and draw a compass rose to show directions for the map.
Curated OER
Determining Direction With A Map- Online Interactive
In this map skills learning exercise, students analyze a city map and study the compass rose. Students answer 10 questions about the map. This is an online interactive learning exercise.
Curated OER
Where We Live
Students forecast future population growth of the U.S. Virgin Islands. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students explain the factors that influence population density on the U.S. Virgin Islands, including geography and economic activity.
Curated OER
Mapping the Census
Young scholars learn why the census makes a difference. For 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.
Curated OER
Reshaping the Nation
High schoolers learn why the census makes a difference. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students learn how to read and use a cartogram while they explore new ways to represent data.