Curated OER
Map your Schoolyard
Pupils practice their mapping skills by creating an accurate map of their schoolyard using an aerial photo from the National Map web site. Students include legends, a scale, and a north arrow on their maps.
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Relief Maps
Students study geographical maps and their functions. In this geography lesson students work in groups to build a map to scale.
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Where in the World War? Mapping the Geography of D-Day
Students examine how to read maps for historical information. They listen to a lecture on the history of D-Day, analyze a historical map of the invasion of Normandy, and answer discussion questions.
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Using Map Skills
Third graders study maps. In this U.S. geography lesson, 3rd graders explore directions on a compass rose and use a map scale to determine distances between two points on a map. They listen to a lecture and use their own maps to practice...
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One Size Fits All?
Students describe the differences between an estimate and a guess. They create reasonable estimates based on comparison and activities. Students explain how estimation is helpful in showing the relative size on a scale. They also...
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Drake's West Indian Voyage 1588-1589
Young scholars investigate several maps detailing Sir Francis Drake's voyages. In this geography instructional activity, students practice reading maps and locating the precise locations of where Sir Francis Drake visited. Young...
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Understanding Geography
Students create a map of their own neighborhood to show the relationships between the geography of the neighborhood and its economy and culture. They view and discuss an introductory video on how geographers study an area then go out...
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Understanding: Geography
Students explore their neighborhoods. For this geography lesson, students make a map of their neighborhood. They must include a key, natural terrain, buildings and streets. They also write a descriptive paragraph about their neighborhood.
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Current Events, Geography
Students read the newspaper to become aware of what is happening in their city, state, nation, and world. They summarize, find locations on a map and ask thought-provoking questions.
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Super Size It, Please!
Pupils take photos from a given distance and determine the height of the person using a scale factor. Pupils calculate the ratio of student actual height to student photo height. They take pictures from 3 different distances to see if...
Science Matters
Earth Shaking Events
The world's largest measured earthquake happened in 1960 in Chile, reaching a terrifying 9.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale. The second lesson in the 20-part series introduces earthquakes and fault lines. Scholars map where previous...
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Scale
Students apply concepts of scales to solve problems. In this geometry activity, students solve real world problems using scales, proportions and ratios. They predict the actual size of a model given the scale drawings.
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Cookie Mapping
Students study the components of a bedrock geology map through a hands-on activity involving a cookie and graph paper.
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Mapping India
Students participate in an activity in which they place placards listing geographic features, landmarks, etc. in the correct place on a large fabric map of a given country. They also examine artifacts, photos, sounds/music, etc. from...
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Intermediate PE Activity-Walk Across the USA
Students, in teams, in physical education classes, attempt to collectively "walk across America." They measure a mile of walking distance at their school and then track how many they walk. They trace the miles on an actual map,...
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Conditions at Sea Data Activity
Students study how to forecast sea conditions. In this oceanography lesson students complete a class activity on wave making.
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Where Is Japan? How Far Is That?
First graders use literature and hands-on activities with maps and globes to explain distance and tools used to measure distance. They select tools to measure various objects in the classroom, then apply those concepts to their map...
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Playground Mapping
Students review their physical models of the objects on their playground at school. Using the model, they convert it into a map with a scale and key. To end the instructional activity, they use the map to locate different objects and...
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Exploring Scale
Sixth graders discuss how the scale and type of graph can change how the data appears. With a partner, they identify all the information about the graph in a specific amount of time and record them in a journal. To end the lesson, they...
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Waldseemuller's Map: World 1507
Seventh graders analyze various maps. For this Geography lesson, 7th graders create a large map as a whole class. Students write a letter to Mr. Waldseemuller.
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Lesson 8: Changes in Deerfield, Massachusetts Shown in Maps
Eighth graders study maps of the same area from different time periods which show the ways in which the land stayed the same, and the ways this New England village changed over the years.
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Latin American Relief Map
Students, in groups, research, design and construct a relief map of a section of Latin America using papier-mache. They show major landforms, elevations and notable bodies of water. They present their maps to the class.
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Map It!
Fourth graders collect and explore different maps and their uses before using the program Pixie to create maps of geographic features, political features, and economic information for the state in which they live.
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Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake
Students develop awareness of occurrences of earthquakes in Illinois and their past and potential future damage, and examine distribution of earthquakes in central U.S. regions.