Curated OER
Northwest Hawaiian Islands
Students compare and contrast places around the world. Students analyze the effects of human activity on the physical environment and devise plans to address the consequences. Students also focus on geographical topics such as formation...
Curated OER
Mapping Mistakes
Students examine early European maps and explore geographic errors. They also view maps of the geography of North America. Students discuss the obstacles faced by early explorers in mapping unexplored territory. They consider what the...
Curated OER
An Elementary School Day in Korea
Students study the similarities and differences between their school and a school in Korea. In this culture study lesson, students discuss and list their classroom's weekly schedule. Students then read about a Korean class schedule and...
Curated OER
A "Boring" Lesson in Geography
Young geographers will enjoy this entertaining instructional activity on maps. You choose ten of the unusual town names that your students found and provide activities that challenge your charges to apply their newfound geography skills....
Curated OER
Understanding the Compass
Young geographers view an excellent description of how compasses work, then work in partners to make a compass of their own. There is a heavy religious component in this lesson; for example, as closure, the teacher reads a verse from the...
Curated OER
Region Reality
Eighth graders compare and contrast world regions and explore the theme of world regions. In this world geography lesson, 8th graders name regions in the U.S. and mark them on a map. Students discuss the cultural and physical...
Curated OER
The Motivation for Movement
Students explore the geographic theme of movement. In this migration lesson, students discuss push-pull factors that motivate immigrants and interpret illegal immigration data. Students also discuss the difficulties that illegals face.
Society for Science & the Public
Easter Islanders Made Tools, Not War
When studying artifacts, especially tools, how do archaeologists determine what the devices were used for? In what ways might researchers' previous experiences influence their perception of an artifact? An article about researchers'...
Curated OER
Roots: The Ancestry of Modern People
High schoolers investigate the models for the origin of modern humans and the conditions that facilitate speciation and evolution. The classification and nomenclature of hominid species is also examined.
California Academy of Science
Optimal and Sustainable: Renewable Energy Revamp
More than 100 cities around the world have shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Scholars investigate a city wanting to make this switch, but needs help determining how to make the shift. Groups consider all options,...
Curated OER
Regions of the United States
Students research maps in order to propose geographic reasons for geographic patterns such as state boundaries, interstates and elevations.
Curated OER
That Was Then, This is Now: When I Was Puerto Rican
Students explain how geographic/cultural setting influences identity by comparing/contrasting Esmeralda's Puerto Rican self with her American self. They closely read text to pinpoint when Esmeralda was no longer Puerto Rican. Students...
Curated OER
Global Conflict: Kashmir
Students analyze different maps of the region. They create a timeline of the area in dispute, focusing on the creation of Pakistan, Indi and Kashmir and previous conflicts between Pakistan and India over Kashmir. Students construct a...
Curated OER
A Country Far Away
First graders compile questions they want to explore other people. Given the information shared by the guest speaker, 1st graders become familiar with customs from another culture and recall what they learned about another country and...
Curated OER
Earth, the Universe, and Culture
Students view segment of documentary, Swift: Eyes Through Time, explore famous scientists, their theories, places of origin, and culture, document scientific viewpoints of famous scientists throughout history, and discuss geographical...
Curated OER
The Other Americans
Students explain the concept of culture and identify the components of a culture. They describe the characteristics of selected immigrant groups and the conditions they faced upon arrival in the United States. Students analyze the...
Curated OER
Mapping the Middle East
Students examine how the countries of the Middle East were created. They explore the influence of various political and geographic factors in their creation. They list the things they should consider in deciding how to draw new borders...
Curated OER
The Arizona Hedgehog Cactus: Endangered Species or not?: Biology, Plants
In this lesson plan students will study the: "Classification of Echinocereus triglochidiatus and Geographical Ranges of its Varieties." Students read background material and scientific literature to analyze the cactus populations and...
Curated OER
Inuit and Arctic Animals
Students will explore the animals and people living in the Arctic. In this science lesson, students locate Alaska on a globe, discuss its climate and geographical features, and identify common arctic animals. Students complete the first...
Curated OER
Ancient Cultures News Broadcast
How does geography influence daily life? Guided by an essential question, class groups select and then research an ancient culture, and develop a news broadcast about the geographical setting and its impact on the culture. Teams select...
Curated OER
Anglophone Countries Report
Fifth graders make reports on Anglophone countries and report to the class. In this Anglophone countries report students take note of presented material. Students answer questions related to the reports. students write a culminating...
Curated OER
Where Am I? Navigating Around the Globe
Third graders review spatial sense learned in grades one and two. They measure distances using map scales. They use atlases, and on-line sources to find geographical information.
Curated OER
Natural Forces
Students assess the damage natural forces have caused Maryland's geographic features. In this state geography and ecology lesson, students work in a group to research ways in which weathering, erosion, and deposition have affected the...