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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Desert Alphabet Book

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students use a book to discover an interesting fact from the desert using each letter of the alphabet. Using a United States map, they identify the meanings of symbols and locate deserts within the U.S. In groups, they participate in...
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The Fabric of Our World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers discuss cultural diversity, and examine how the community reflects the cultural background of the inhabitants. They read the book, People, take a community walk, create a rainbow chart, and research other states for...
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Lesson Plan
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Chart Making for Navigators

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss the importance and function of nautical maps for sailors. They, in groups, take soundings of a simulated bay in a shoebox and develop a nautical chart that enable them to navigate the shoebox safely.
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Finding Your Spot in the World

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate a world map, a United States map, a state map, a county map and a city map. They locate each student's house on the city map and put a length of yarn from their house to a country of one of their ancestors.
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Traveling Through Literature

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Integrate geography with literature in this interdisciplinary lesson plan. Begin by reading a poem such as The Time We Climbed Snake Mountain by Leslie Marmon Silko. On a large map, place push pins in the cities or states mentioned. An...
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Lesson Plan
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Transportation's affect on the Growth of Cities in the United States

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the major advancements that have been made in transportation throughout U.S. history (waterways, horses, steam power, railroads, automobiles, etc.) They access websites imbedded in this plan and answer questions...
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Southern Agriculture and the Slave Trade

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between agriculture and the slave trade during the 1860s. In groups, they research how two factors led to the explosion of slavery in the Southern United States. Using maps, they answer comprehension...
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Our City

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders familiarize themselves with the town they live in by practicing their imagination, library research and writing skills.
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Journey on the Underground Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Young scholars use Indiana and Michigan state road maps to trace a route to Canada from Madison, IN. with the many possible stops along the way. They make a picture book that depicts a runaway slave's journey on UCR.
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People On The Move

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Pupils describe patterns of internal migration in the United States, past and present and evaluate implications of internal migration. They examine population movement at the state and local levels.
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Unit Plan
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America the Beautiful

For Teachers 7th
Students analyze the physical geography of the United States and how we have adapted to or altered the land to create the country we know today. Students complete maps with physical features, states and cities of interest.
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Lesson Plan
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Movement of Native American Tribes 1830-1890

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine the movement of Native American tribes during the mid 1800's. In this American History lesson, students study two Native American tribes that live in the United States and complete a comparison/analyze project. Students...
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Japan: Images of a People

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students learn the geography of Japan and its location in reference to the United States.
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Lesson Plan
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Nina Bonita: Culture and Beauty

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students read Nina Bonita by Ana Maria Machado. In this reading comprehension/ geography lesson, students recall various parts of the story and create a map of where the rabbit traveled throughout the story. They participate in group...
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The Railroads and Settlement of the Great Plains

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Enhance your American literature unit with this resource, in which readers access the Nebraska Studies website and read about "Railroads and Settlement." They search for a photograph of some aspect of the railroad from the Prairie...
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Apple Logic and Problem Solving

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine apple production in the United States. In this interdisciplinary lesson, students use problem solving strategies introduced to solve math problems associated with apple production in the United States. Student collect...
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Lesson Plan
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Backseat Travelers

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the geography of the Southeast regions of the United States. They conduct Internet research, listen to the book "No Star Nights," and plan and write a trip through this regions.
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Lesson Plan
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Who Dropped What into the Melting Pot?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students show the movement of people to the United States from other countries on maps. They study the geographic cultural roots of foods that contribute to the melting pot of food in America. They research where an ingredient comes from...
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A Collage of Canada

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore geography and culture of Canada. They play game that involves reviewing materials and answering questions about Canada, and create posters and brochures about life in Canada.
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The Global Village and Trade

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils analyze maps of trade patterns between the United States and other nations and identify factors that may influence the production of goods.
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Lesson Plan
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Wetlands: Pave or Save?

For Teachers K - 6th
Students discuss the characteristics of wetlands and how to make them more productive. Using a map, they locate the major wetlands in the United States and color them using a key. They read an article and in groups answer discussion...
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The Immigrant Experience

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students utilize oral histories to discover, analyze, and interpret immigration and migration in the history of the United States. A goal of the unit is fostering a discussion and encouraging students to make meaning of the bigger...
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The Ultimate Road Trip

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders experience and practice real-world geography, science and math as they imagine planning out the ultimate road trip. They set goals and maintain a daily budget as they are given a set of rules as they plan their road trip...
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Curated OER

Weather Watch

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine weather patterns. In this weather lesson, students examine daily weather maps, identify weather patterns, and forecast weather based on the patterns they note.