Curated OER
US Geography: The Midwest
Students investigate the geography and agricultural products of the Midwestern United States. In this US geography lesson, students watch and discuss a video that depicts the Midwest of the US as the breadbasket of the country. They make...
Curated OER
U.S. Geography: The Midwest
Students research agricultural products of the Midwest. In this Midwest lesson, students watch a video about the geography of the Midwest, discuss how topographical features were formed and review the agricultural products the Midwest...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
What Brought Settlers to the Midwest?
Drawn by promises of fertile land, thousands of settlers poured West because of the Homestead Act of 1862. By examining images of the ads that drew them westward, learners consider the motivations for movement. They also consider how the...
Scholastic
Perfect Postcards: Illinois
Connect the geography and history of Illinois using an art-centered lesson on the railroads. The railroad connected once-distant places, particularly in the Midwest. Using research, class members create postcards of fictional cross-state...
Curated OER
States and Capitals, Mountains and Rivers
Students identify geographical locations in the midwestern United States. In this geography lesson, students identify 12 states and capitals and geographical features in the region by using U.S. maps. Students use blank maps to fill in...
Curated OER
Travelogs
Learners make travelog journals to send to acquaintances in other states in order to receive mail in return. They make scrapbooks with the return mail they receive.
Curated OER
The Myth and the Reality: Pioneering in the Midwest
Students examine the myth and reality of settlement in the Upper Midwest during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Curated OER
Government Lesson Plan - Number 14
Students analyze data on air pollution in Maryland. They evaluate the effectiveness of government actions to improve air quality. Each group recommends actions that would improve air quality on the federal, state and local level.
Curated OER
How the West Was One: A Layered Book
Students create a layered book about the information they learn about the Western region of the United States. In this Western states lesson plan, students create a book about the land, economy, and culture.
Curated OER
Touring the Regions of the United States
Fifth graders explore the regions of the United States. For this geography skills lesson, 5th graders examine the landforms, climates, and economies of the regions of the United States. Students conduct Internet research in order to...
Curated OER
Touring the Regions of the United States
Fifth graders explore the regions of the United States. They use maps, research on the Internet and use measurements and estimations. Students create a presentation using spreadsheets and publishing software.
Curated OER
Map Memory
Fifth graders, working in a whole class setting, label a United States map with the names of all the states that they know. They transfer the names of the states to an individual map and color it. Next, they receive directions on how to...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Regions of the United States
Third graders create Powerpoint presentations of various geographic regions of the United States. They focus on the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions. Students combine their individual slides into a class presentation.
Curated OER
Geography of the United States
Students examine the population growth of the United States. In this Geography lesson, students construct a map of the fifty states. Students create a graph of the population of the USA.
Curated OER
Apples! Apples! Apples!
Students explore the life of Johnny Appleseed as they create a MediaBlender project of Johnny's journey through the Midwest territory, and compare and contrast items he brought on his journey with items students would bring with them on...
Curated OER
Introduce Michigan
Fourth graders explore Michigan. For this geography skills lesson, 4th graders read textbook pages about the state and then participate in a classroom activity that requires them to be part of an assembly line.
School Improvement in Maryland
Pollution Data
Smog? Vog? What is being done about air pollution? Government classes investigate federal and state programs designed to improve air quality, and then develop a proposal for further actions that are needed.
Curated OER
Why Do Geese Fly South For the Winter?
Fifth graders examine migration by tracing animal migration routes on a map. In this animal life lesson, 5th graders observe a map of North America and read about the migration patterns of geese. Students trace the path most...
Curated OER
Natural Features as a Resource
Students identify resources provided by nature for basic human needs. In this natural features lesson plan, students discuss the various regions of the United States. They explore one region in depth and complete activities that...
Curated OER
From Sea to Shining Sea
Students study the geography of the United States of America. Students write letters, create travel brochures, make maps, graph population numbers, read fiction and nonfiction selections, complete KWL charts, and watch films.
Curated OER
Where Did My Lunch Come From? A U.S. Regional Tour
Students explore the regions from which their food comes. In this social studies lesson, students identify the different agricultural products that are found in the major regions of the United States. Students create a lunch menu.
Curated OER
Find a Cave
Students locate their own communites and the nearest caves on a United States map. They calculate the distance to the nearest cave using rough scale.
Curated OER
Journey to Gettysburg
Young scholars use latitude and longitude to map the path of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Stanford University
Great Plains Homesteaders
"Westward, ho!" may have been their cry in spite of the hardships. Using a series of photographs by Solomon D. Butcher of those who ventured west, class members consider what life was like in the 1800s for those who embarked on the...