Curated OER
Valentine City
Students construct a small city on a table in the classroom. Each student is given a lot to develop. They give directions from one location to another, and write letters with correct addresses to their classmates.
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The Water Around Us
Students discuss importance of reading maps and knowing about the geography of the United States, and locate bodies of water on different types of maps and examine how they are used in the state or local community.
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Walking on Maps
Students are introduced to the various types of maps and their functions. As a class, they play a game similar to twister to review map concepts. They answer questions about the map and use the internet to view larger maps of the world.
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Continents and Oceans
Students identify oceans and continents and their locations on a map. They color-code and label their own map of the world's continents and oceans. They play the game Continents and Oceans to identify specific areas.
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What if the Mormons had not come to Utah?
Fourth graders use critical thinking, evaluation, and geography skills to find alternative locations that Brigham Young could have taken the Mormons to settle.
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Mapping Districts
Learners become literate in their use of maps. For this 2010 Census lesson plan, students visualize census data on maps, use map keys to read population maps, and explore the concept of population density.
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Mapping Districts
Learners use maps to learn about the U.S. Census. In this 2010 Census lesson plan, students visualize census data on maps, use map keys to read population maps, and explore the concept of population density.
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Lesson 2: Mapping Sub-districts
Students learn more about the census. In this mapping sub-districts lesson plan, students visualize census data on a map, use a map key to read a population map, and better understand the concept of population density.
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Equator, North Pole, and South Pole
Students identify the Equator, North Pole, and South Pole on the globe. In this map skills lesson, students use a globe marker to locate specific locations on the globe. Students find where they live in relation to the Equator.
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Lesson 1: Map Data and the Census
Learners learn about the history of the census. In this U. S. Census lesson plan, students develop an understanding about how the United States Constitution grants and distributes power and discover how the spatial organization of...
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China is Unique
Sixth graders study the culture of China by comparing it to that of the United States. They write all questions and notes in a journal. The students access the internet to obtain the information and internet sites are suggested in the...
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Introduction to Canada
Ninth graders investigate the country of Canada by examining their media in this geography lesson. They use the Internet to research Canadian newspapers and analyze a topic covered by both US and Canadian media sources. After comparing...
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Arkansas: A Changing Climate, a Changing Land
Here is a lesson on the climate zones and geography of Arkansas. In it, learners look at maps (embedded) of different climate zones found throughout Arkansas. They engage in discussions regarding how global warming and climate change is...
Cornell University
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Continuing their study of beneficial insects, young entomologists discover where in the world some of these bugs are. By labeling, coloring, and using the scale on a map, pupils explore the territories and arrival of the Asian lady...
US Mint
Symbols in My Eyes
Explore the hidden meanings behind the images on US currency with this elementary school lesson on symbolism. Starting with a class discussion about symbols, children go on to brainstorm different objects that represent the Unites States...
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World Map and Globe - Four Main Directions
Learners study the four main directions on a map. In this map instructional activity, students locate the North and South pole, and learn the four cardinal directions. They use the compass rose on a map to help with the directions. (Map...
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
Red States/Blue States: Mapping the Presidential Election
Young historians investigate how voting patterns have changed by comparing the outcome of the 1960 election to the outcome of the recent election. A creative final assessment has participants making a news show wherein they provide...
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Where I Live…
Second graders explore their community. In this social studies lesson plan, 2nd graders use Internet tools to locate their community on a map and then locate where they live.
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U.S. Geography: The Northeast
Learners investigate U.S. Geography by creating a map in class. In this natural resource lesson, students create a map of the United States and research the Northeast based on their resources and recyclable materials. Learners utilize...
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Geography and World History
Students build off of their current knowledge of geography and world history, while being introduced to new concepts and ideas.
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The Desert Alphabet Book
Learners explore world geography by researching a science book with their classmates. In this desert identification lesson, students utilize a U.S. map to locate the geographical locations of deserts. Learners create an oral report based...
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How Does Your Garden Grow? Discovering How Weather Patterns Affect Natural Cycles
For the warm-up in this cool climate lesson, you will need to click on "Mapping" and then "US Mapping" once you arrive at NOAA's "US Climate at a Glance" page. Earth science explorers realize that 2012 was a warm winter for us. They read...
Curated OER
Call to Arms: A Service Project
Sick of selling candy and washing cars? How about hosting a Digital Day or a Learning Lunch? The suggestions here make fund raising fun and rewarding. Raise money to preserve important maps and other primary source documents.
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Our Country's Geography
Third graders study geography. In this United States landforms instructional activity, 3rd graders create a map of the U.S. made out of dough. They use various edible treats to mark the country's capital, the plains, the mountains and...