Curated OER
Mapmaker, Make Me a Map!
Here is a well-designed, very thorough lesson plan on mapping for very young children. Within the six-page plan, you will find everything you need to implement the lesson plan. They will identify various landforms found in Colorado on a...
Curated OER
Land Plan Challenge
Links to two different versions of this mapping activity are available. In "The Small Version," youngsters design a town, keeping the water supply in mind. In "The Large Version," they also design a town, but they consider services and...
Edgate
Great Grids
Learners use grid boxes as a measurement tool and discover how grids are used for mapmaking and scaling down an area. They begin by attempting to draw a model shape drawn by the teacher by using the gridding process. At the conclusion of...
Curated OER
Whole Language Approach to Map Making
Fifth graders, after reading Island of the Blue Dolphins, explore map making using the Whole Language Approach.
Curated OER
I Can Find that Where? - A Study of Landforms
First graders make landform maps of the United States. In this landform lessons, 1st graders participate in a discussion of local landforms and make a landform map of the United States. They follow the teacher's directions to add plains,...
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
Make Your Map
In this map making activity, 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
Schoolyard Geology
Discover that maps show information about an area and that they have common features like scales and legends. View an aerial map of your school and find features on the map such as the playground, roads, and trees. Trace the outline of...
Curated OER
Maps in Kindergarten: Rosie’s Walk
Students are read, Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins. In this sequencing lesson plan, students discover the importance of knowing how to create a map and read it. They listen to the story and complete various map making activities.
Curated OER
Kid Maps: Reading and Creating Maps with Human Characteristics
Students look at maps. In this map lesson, students listen to the book My Map Book by Sara Fanelli and they see the difference between human characteristics (buildings, etc.) and natural characteristics (rivers, etc.). They...
Curated OER
Create a Community Tree Tour
Students study tree identification. In this tree identification instructional activity, students design and assemble a tree tour booklet describing 5 trees found in their community. The booklet should feature common and Latin names of...
Curated OER
Silk Roads Big Map
Learners create an oversized map from Europe to East Asia. They include information such as Silk Roads, geographical features, major cities and cultural information on their map.
Curated OER
Polar Day: Living in the Canadian North
Students study the Canadian North. In this Canadian North lesson, students study the physical characteristics and the lifestyles of people in that region. Students complete map making and creative activities that help them learn about...
Curated OER
You Can Do It, Mr. And Mrs. Mallard!
Students watch the video "Make Way for Ducklings" by Robert Mc Closkey. They write letters to Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and make a map for the mallards. They talk about the importance of animal habitats.
Curated OER
People and Places
Fifth graders investigate how the geography of the land effected the human experience of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They research using primary and secondary sources, design a map.
Other
Annenberg Center: The Re Districting Game
Could mapmakers truly hold the fate of elections in their hands when it comes to shaping voting districts? This interactive site is designed to educate and allow users to become a virtual district mapmaker.
NOAA
Noaa: National Ocean Service Education: Global Positioning Tutorial
Illustrated tutorial explains the history and science of geodesy. Animations help students visualize how scientists measure and monitor the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points on its surface.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Map Maker Interactive and 1 Page Map Maker
This National Geographic feature allows visitors to create their own world maps complete with capitals, oceans, climate information, satellite view, personalized trail markings and more. Choose from a detailed color map or the second...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Mapping Our Worlds
In this lesson, introduce your students to the world of maps and discover a world of information online. Students learn how to identify different types of maps, comparing maps to the rooms of a house.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Map It!
In this activity, students explore map making. Students' read a story, identify the locations of different places in the story, decide the distance between each set of places in the story, and create a map with a legend.
Social Studies for Kids
Social Studies for Kids: Latitude and Longitude
A collection of latitude and longitude mapping activities ranging from pin-pointing exact locations on the globe to researching the history behind this basic geography concept.
Other
Valparaiso University: Carl Ritter
This site from the Valparaiso University provides information on Carl Ritter and Alexander von Humboldt, two famous geographers.