Smithsonian Institution
We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region
How did colonial settlement and the establishment of the United States affect Native Americans in the Chesapeake region? Your young historians will analyze contemporary and historical maps, read informational texts, and work in groups to...
National Museum of the American Indian
The A:Shiwi (Zuni) People: A Study in Environment, Adaptation, and Agricultural Practices
Discover the connection of native peoples to their natural world, including cultural and agricultural practices, by studying the Zuni people of the American Southwest. This instructional activity includes examining a poster's...
Curated OER
Rivers Bridge State Historic Site
Students use maps, readings, illustrations and photos to analyze the Civil War Rivers Bridge battlefield and describe how geography affected the outcome of the battle. They explore and explain the causes for the battle's heavy human...
Curated OER
Finding River Cities
Using a wall map, students will find major rivers in the four regions of the United States. Then they answer questions about how people use natural resources, such as rivers.
Curated OER
Grade 8 Unit 4
Eighth graders analyze aspirations and ideals of the people of the new nation, in terms of its physical landscapes and political divisions, and the territorial expansion of the United States during the terms of the first four presidents.
Curated OER
Indiana Travel Guide
Fourth graders share their information about their home state. In this research lesson plan, 4th graders use graphic organizers to make a travel guide about the state of Indiana. This lesson plan could be modified for use with any state,...
Curated OER
Discovering Descriptions
Delve into the journey of Lewis and Clark using this lesson on Missouri. After sharing books on Lewis and Clark's journey across the United States, pupils discuss the descriptive language used in their writing, and come up with their own...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue
Young adventurers embark on a journey, setting sail along the blue ocean with Christopher Columbus. Teachers will find that this unit makes their lesson planning smooth sailing!
Curated OER
Splish Splash
Pupils study drinking water. In this environment activity, students draw the path of drinking water from the place of precipitation to the tap after researching a map and information from the United States Geological Survey water...
Curated OER
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Students study westward expansion. In this US history lesson, students describe the adventures and hardships faced by the explorers known as Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Students write a report to the President about the journey...
Curated OER
River to the Sea
Students investigate the function of wathersheds and weather while they follow Lewis and Clark on their jouney west. They also create a map using acurate measurements and build a model watershed.
Curated OER
Cadron Settlement and the Trail of Tears
Young scholars examine the reason for removal of the Cherokee and other Indian nations. They map the water route of the Trail of Tears from its origination in the east and through the Arkansas River Valley to Indian Territory.
Curated OER
The Mighty Mississippi River
Students acquire in-depth knowledge of the geographic significance of the Mississippi River. They identify and expand their knowledge of the role of the river in the development of cities. Finally, students gain insight into the ways...
Curated OER
Over the Rivers and Through the Woods
Sixth graders examine the purpose of the keelboat used by the Corps of Discovery on the Lewis and Clark expedition. They assess its strengths and weaknesses for navigating different rivers, and describe its overall purpose for the...
Curated OER
Mechanics Hall
Young scholars complete a variety of activities that go along with the study of and possible fieldtrip to Mechanics Hall (Black River Valley) in Worcester, MA. They examine the role industrial development had in society at the turn of...
Curated OER
Rising Tensions Over The Nile River Basin
Students analyze the concept of global commons dilemma. In this investigative lesson students read an article on the Middle East Media Research Institute and answer questions accordingly.
Syracuse University
Erie Canal
While canals are not the way to travel today, in the first half of the nineteenth century, they were sometimes the best way to move goods and people. Scholars examine primary sources, including maps and pictures, to investigate the role...
Curated OER
Dos mapas de Florida, el Caribe y parte de Sur America
What can maps tell us about the past? Find out with a Spanish lesson that incorporates geography. After examining maps individually, comparing two old maps of Spanish Florida and writing notes in the provided Venn diagram, pupils pair up...
Curated OER
The Civil War Comes to Kansas: The Battle of Mine Creek
Seventh graders explore the impact of Price's Raid and the Battle of Mine Creek. In this American Civil War instructional activity, 7th graders examine a list of events based on the war in Kansas and then put them in chronological order....
Curated OER
Map on the Wall
Learners examine the Ogallala aquifer water storage facility, identify rivers that refill the aquifer, and locate major cities near by. Students make maps of the area.
Curated OER
Reading a Map
Third graders become familiar with the vocabulary and skills related to mapping. In this guided reading lesson, 3rd graders find proper nouns on from the map. Students read Goldilocks. Students make a map of their room.
Curated OER
State Poster Fair: US Geography, Social Science, Art
Students research a US state, design and construct a state 'poster' to display important facts about that particular state. They present their work to the class.
Curated OER
The Oregon Trail
In this Oregon Trail worksheet, students practice their map skills while they explore the states of Oregon, Missouri, Idaho, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Students us a map of the US to plot six points on the map that show the Oregon Trail.
Curated OER
States with Attitude, Latitude and Longitude Dude
Sixth graders identify states whose boundaries are formed by lines of latitude and longitude or natural borders such as rivers. They trace a map of the U.S., and fill in borders, rivers and lines of latitude and longitude.