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Grand Canyon
In this Grand Canyon learning exercise, students answer 5 true or false questions that involve making inferences from a reading passage about the Grand Canyon. Then the students write a short opinion paragraph where they help the family...
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Drought Threatens Huge Man-Made Lake
Students locate Lake Mead, then read a news article about Lake Mead drying up and how that would effect water and power supplies to the region. In this current events instructional activity, the teacher introduces the article with a map...
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Colors Crackle, Colors Roar
First graders engage in a reading of poems in colorful language. They become with the interrelation of using Spanish and English words interchangeably in a text. The lesson also builds multicultural appreciation for young students.
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You're In My Space!
Students explain how political, social, and economic boundaries can be changed through cooperation and conflict. Small groups are assigned a particular trouble area of the world. Each group studies a particular side of the conflict.
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The Birth of a Rocky Mountain City and Railroad: Georgetown and the Loop Railroad
Learners explore the evolution of a town. In this social studies lesson, students discuss why Georgetown and the Georgetown Loop Railroad were developed and discuss life as a prospector. Learners write a letter explaining what life is...
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Migration - An African-American Adventure During WWI
Sixth graders explore the push/pull factors that influenced the South to North migration. In this African-American migration lesson, 6th graders read an article and answer comprehension questions. Students write a letter to the...
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It's Happening, Where? Find the Absolute and Relative Location of News Articles
Young scholars read newspaper articles. In this social studies activity, students locate the latitude and longitude of the location where the news article takes place. Young scholars write a summary of the news article.
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Westward Ho: The Difficulties of Emigrants Moving West
Young scholars research the journey west of 19th century emigrants. In this pioneer lesson, students read the letters and diaries of a fictitious family traveling on the Oregon Trail. They mark their route on a US map, create a chart...
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Cranes, Crosswalks, and Big Gulps
Learners watch a video and answer questions based on wildlife jobs. In this wildlife lesson plan, students learn that biologists don't just play with animals but that there is a lot of study involved.
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Lights On ! Lights Off! Exploring Human Settlement Patterns
Third graders write informational paragraphs based on the settlement patterns of the United States. In this settlement lesson plan, 3rd graders read about population and how it affects where people settle next.
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But We Need More, Where Will It Come From?
Students write a persuasive letter and create a poster about pollution and conservation. In this pollution and conservation lesson plan, students learn how humans are the number 1 cause of pollution.
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Me on the Map: Homes, Neighborhoods, and Communities
Students read a book about maps and identify the differences between a picture and a map. For this maps lesson plan, students also label maps of their home, neighborhood, and community.
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Rivers that Flow from the Continental Divide: The Journey of Two Rivers
Students explore river routes. In this social studies lesson, students trace the route of a river from its source and discuss the Continental Divide. Students draw the route the river takes and name the states it flows through. Students...
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Take Me to the River
Students learn about a different way of life. In this river and dams lesson, students discuss the Hoover Dam. Students then view pictures of the Hoover Dam, discuss the impact of dams, and compare life before and after...
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How the West Was One: A Layered Book
Students create a layered book about the information they learn about the Western region of the United States. In this Western states lesson plan, students create a book about the land, economy, and culture.
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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...
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I Am A Rock, I Am An Island: Describing Landforms and Bodies of Water
Students identify common landforms and bodies of water from descriptions of distinguishing features. In this landforms and bodies of water lesson plan, students describe the features they see in the pictures given to them.
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Which Way is Up? The Tree of Life in Africa
Students read a book titled This is the Tree about a baobab tree and draw a picture and label the tree. In this tree lesson plan, students also write a paragraph explaining why they drew that tree.
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Mountain Magic: Identifying the Basic Physical Characteristics of Mountains
Students read about and identify on maps the physical characteristics of mountains. In this mountains lesson plan, students also write about the characteristics using personification.
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Where Did My Lunch Come From? A U.S. Regional Tour
Students explore the regions from which their food comes. For this social studies lesson, students identify the different agricultural products that are found in the major regions of the United States. Students create a lunch menu.
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Catch Me If You Can: Over and Under
Students read a story. In this vocabulary skills lesson plan, students read The Gingerbread Man, use flannel cut outs to re-enact the gingerbread man running over and under.
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Leapin' Landmarks: Locating 10 Man-made Landmarks Around the World
Third graders label continents, oceans, and major mountain ranges on maps and use the maps to write an informational report about landmarks. In this landmarks lesson plan, 3rd graders write about 1 major landmark.
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Cardinal Directions
Students explore cardinal directions. In this social studies lesson, students create maps of home and school using the cardinal directions.
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Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport
Second graders listen to "Gila Monsters Meet You At the Airport" and complete venn diagrams of geographical areas.