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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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienteering: Map Skills

For Teachers K - 4th
Students use a map to locate six specific landmarks on a course using a map. They identify how maps can help us and write a paragraph describing how to get from one landmark to another on the map.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Skills

For Teachers 3rd
Thirds graders reinforce that a map is a drawing that shows what a place looks like from above. They use a map key and symbols to create a map of the school and its neighborhood.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compass Rose for the New Millennium

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are introduced to the concepts of a compass rose and how it used in relationship to reading maps in geography. The activity is meant to build upon prior knowledge and skills.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do the Tallywalker

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study the basics of mapmaking, then make a tally walker, (geographic location device used in secret).
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Geography- The Northeast

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the geography of the Northeast states. For this map skills lesson, students are shown a map of the Northeast states and identify the state names and borders. Students construct individual maps of the Northeast using...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Your Way

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students work in small groups to practice basic map skills. They take turns giving directions and tracing a path from one location to different destinations on the map.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rivers Run Through It

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Using a relief map of New York State, learners answer questions about the distance between different cities, identify bodies of water, and more. First, they discuss vocabulary related to the Hudson River area. Then, they complete a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

California Geography

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore geography of four distinct regions of California: mountains, coast, central valley, and desert. They locate California on map, identify state's boundaries and borders, and explore agriculture, a major economic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #6: Solar-Powered Battery Charger

For Teachers 5th - 9th
In a previous lesson plan, learners build an ammeter. That ammeter, or a pre-made one, is required in order to carry out this lesson plan. The objective is for lab groups to design a way to connect solar cells that can recharge a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Going, Going, Ghost

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research ghost towns. In this geography lesson plan, 3rd graders locate ghost towns on a map and choose one location to research. Students construct a research paper and present it to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Making/Floor Plans/Map Reading

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars apply their knowledge of scale when mapping the classroom. They determine the use of a map legend and orient a map using a compass. They create the classroom maps using transfer graph paper.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Map Mystery

For Teachers 1st
First graders solve a mystery by following map clues. In this map clues lesson plan, 1st graders follow a computer program called Neighborhood Map Machine. In this program, it gives students directional and spatial clues in order to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where In the World Am I?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners identify their location in the world after studying latitude, longitude, relative location, and absolute location. They use assigned web site to find information to make a flipbook that answers questions about their location in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mr. Lincoln's Hat

For Teachers K - 5th
Bring out the inner artist with this Abraham Lincoln lesson. Elementary students work on a home project creating a hat similar to Abraham Lincoln's hat. They will use geometry and measurement to create the scale of the hat, then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies For Elementary School

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders become familar with maps and work in groups to get an overview of what Europe is like. The real assignment is in the form of students creating their own trip if it could really be taken.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Story Wheels

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students use a Story Wheel to summarize a novel, practice sequencing skills, visualize story elements and recognize story structure. In groups, they each complete a piece of the story wheel and put it all together. They complete the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maps as Models of Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use different types of maps to find locations and surface features.  In this map-reading lesson students use a compass to find direction.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science:Wherever You Go, There You Are

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore navigation principles by observing, measuring, and interpreting data to determine locations. Using a compass, compass rose, and a transit, they plot courses and discover the workings of the Global Positioning System...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Map Mystery

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders solve a map mystery. In this technology lesson plan, 2nd graders develop an awareness of maps and the symbols associated with maps as they the "Neighborhood Map Machine."
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Design Archaeology- U.S. Map

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine the U.S. map and identify cultural areas. For this archaeology lesson, students locate cultural areas on the U.S. map and fill in the proper locations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Region Map of a State

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create salt maps of a state and indicate its regions. They include topographical elements including mountains, valleys, lowlands and major water bodies and a compass rose.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

State Research

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners apply previous knowledge of the United States to label a classroom map and then work independently to complete an online scavenger hunt. This lesson is intended for an upper-elementary classroom studying American History and/or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Outdoor Education

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students participate in various outdoor activities to teach them about the environment. In this outdoor education lesson plan, students participate in activities such as compass direction, conservation, forestry, wildlife, and...