Smithsonian Institution
For Land's Sake: George Washington as Land Surveyor
Students discuss the importance of land ownership and the purpose of land surveying in the eighteenth century. They interpret a transcript of an eighteenth-century land survey. They survey and area of land. They create a written or...
SeaWorld
Marvelous Manatees
Here is an interesting lesson on the manatee for your upper graders or middle schoolers. A game is played where learners work together to complete a successful manatee migration. It's a board game, and all of the game components are...
Curated OER
Land of the Rising Sun
Students survey aspects of traditional and modern Japanese customs and beliefs in the seven lessons of this unit. Both the culture and the geography of the country are studied in this unit.
Curated OER
A Good Foundation
Students examine how regional geology affects bridge foundations. In this physical science lesson, students explore how bridge types are constructed for different purposes.
Smithsonian Institution
Picturing George: A Pictorial Survey of the Life of George Washington
Students create pictorial biographies of George Washington. Working in groups, they research various portions of Washington's life, highlighting significant events. After presenting their projects to the class, they are displayed for...
Curated OER
Science: Draining the Land - the Mississippi River
Students use topographic maps to identify parts of rivers. In addition, they discover gradient and predict changes in the channels caused by variations in water flow. Other activities include sketching a river model with a new channel...
Curated OER
Cookie Topography
Learners construct a cross section diagram showing elevation changes on a "cookie island." Using a chocolate chip cookie for an island, they locate the highest point in centimeters on the cookie and create a scale in feet. After tracing...
Curated OER
What Can Be Done to Improve Ha'iku Town Shopping Areas?
Second graders examine different areas to determine how they can be improved. They observe and collect data concerning different problems and use a map to record their information. After analyzing the data, they develop possible...
Curated OER
Does Hawaiian Agriculture Feed Hawaii's People?
Students research background information about Hawaiian agriculture in a variety of resources, then read and collect newspaper ads marketing local produce. They suggest food preparation ideas using local produce.
Curated OER
Design an Island
Learners explore islands. They create a two- or three-dimensional map of an island. They explain how the topography of an area influences the location of water sources, ecosystems, and human settlements. Lesson includes adaptations for...
Curated OER
Natural Resources
Young scholars explore Iowa geography and topographic maps. In this geography and topographic maps lesson, student investigate maps, newspapers, Iowa flora and fauna. Students gain an understanding of how different landforms can be...
Curated OER
Provincial Showdown
Students read an article that compares the provinces of Canada and asks students to suggest reasons why other countries should invest in Canada.
Curated OER
You Gotta Know the Territory
Students examine the relationship between Native Americans and those who settled the Iowa territory. In this Iowa history instructional activity, students investigate the process for settling the territory and how intercultural...
Curated OER
Makiing Sense of the Census
Students investigate trends in agriculture. In this secondary mathematics lesson plan, students evaluate agricultural census data from 1982 to 2202 as they compare the properties of the mean and the median. Students explore...
Curated OER
To Dig or Not to Dig: The Stadium Showdown
Students examine an ethical public dilemma. In this cultural resource lesson, students role play to examine their personal beliefs regarding the protection of cultural resources. They evaluate possible actions they can take to protect...
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum: Building of the Iron Road
From an article by B.P. Avery printed in the May, 1869, issue of "Overland Monthly" is this description of the building of the transcontinental railroad including information about the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific...