Institute for Geophysics
Understanding Maps of Earth
Here is your go-to student resource on primary geography concepts, including facts about the surface of the earth and its hemispheres, latitude and longitude, globes, types of maps, and identifying continents and oceans.
California Academy of Science
California's Climate
The United States is a large country with many different climates. Graph and analyze temperature and rainfall data for Sacramento and Washington DC as you teach your class about the characteristics of Mediterranean climates. Discuss the...
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Brochure of African Countries
Students research a country in Africa and present the information they found and the brochure they designed to the class while their peers take notes to use as a study guide for the exam.
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Fighting Disease
Seventh graders explore the concept of medical intervention in African nations. In this geography lesson, 7th graders research primary and secondary sources in search of information regarding Guinea worm disease. Students use their...
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Introduction to the World Globe
Students examine a globe and the world map to see what constitutes the differences. In this world map introductory activity, students discuss what they see when they view the globe. Students then, look at a world map and compare the...
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Region Reality
Eighth graders compare and contrast world regions and explore the theme of world regions. In this world geography lesson plan, 8th graders name regions in the U.S. and mark them on a map. Students discuss the cultural and physical...
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Continents
Students investigate World Geography by researching the different continents. In this Asian Geography lesson plan, students discuss the continent of Pangaea and color a worksheet of the continents. Students locate China on the map...
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History/Geography
Students review North America, Africa, Europe and Asia. They identify Australia as the smallest continent. They identify Australia as an island continent nicknamed "the land down under." They color a map of Australia.
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World Map and Globe - Lesson 15 (K-3)
Students discover mountain ranges and their locations in the world. In this physical map instructional activity, students locate and identify major mountain ranges of the world on a large physical map.
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European Explorers of North and South America
Sixth graders explore the connection between the geography of America and the migration of the Native Americans to the American continents to the future conquering of the continents by the Europeans. They discuss the causes and effects...
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Diversity Geography
Ninth graders explore the diversity of people found throughout the world. In this Geography lesson, 9th graders create a short oral report describing that area.
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Africa South of the Sahara Today
Students describe and analyze cultural exchange projects that link students in all parts of the world. They write a report about the Ghana project of Morgan City High School.
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On the Road Again
Students examine migration patterns in Africa and China. They watch excerpts from a documentary, define key vocabulary words, complete various student organizers, and create a poster.
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Heading South
Pupils study the concept of animal migration with the change of seasons. They discover that migration can be hazardous, and the distance migrated can be short or long.
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Nelson Mandela, Symbol of Courage
Fifth graders study Nelson Mandela. In this leadership lesson, 5th graders study the life of Nelson Mandela. Throughout their learning, they read biographies on Nelson Mandela, compare their community to those in South Africa, discuss...
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What is reconciliation?
Tenth graders practice using empathy with an enemy. In this Current Events lesson, 10th graders prepare possible peace plans for Bosnia after the war. Students write a report on Nelson Mandela's use of reconciliation in South...
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Equator, North Pole, and South Pole
Young scholars 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. Young scholars find where they live in relation to the Equator.
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African Architecture
Seventh graders investigate cultural influences on architecture in Africa south of the Sahara. They compare the architecture to that in North America, Europe, Russia, and North Africa, Asia, and South America.
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From Riches to Rice
Tenth graders identify and locate Africa, the United States, the Original 13 colonies, and the region of West Africa on a map. They list examples of culture and African American culture. Students link the culture of West Africa with the...
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Discovering Swahili
Students investigate the African language of Swahili by translating vocabulary words. In this foreign language lesson, students write 26 English words that define Africa and utilize the Internet to translate them into Swahili....
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Living Through Fire
Students investigate the poverty found in Haiti. In this current events lesson, students research the noted Web sites to study Haiti's geography, history, and civil war.
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Globe Skills Lesson 4 The Colonial Period
Students practice their map skills. In this Colonial geography lesson, students complete an activity that requires them to locate English colonial locations using latitude and longitude coordinates.
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Cacao Tree Geography
Students use a map to learn about where chocolate comes from. In this lesson on the cacao tree, students locate various regions where the cacao tree grows. They will discuss why the cacao tree grows more favorably in particular climates...
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Heading South
Students look at the migration of different birds. In this migration lesson, students discuss why an animal migrates and problems that can occur during migration. They look at several downloadable maps that show the specific routes of...