Curated OER
Chihauhan Desert Journaling Activity
Students explore U.S. geography by completing an observational activity with classmates. In this New Mexico lesson, students research the Chihuahuan Desert by visiting several Internet sites. Students write the data they've collected in...
Curated OER
Maps Can Help Us
First graders explore the geography of Montana by analyzing geographic maps of the area. In this Native American reservation lesson, 1st graders discuss the similarities and differences between reservations in the state of Montana....
Curated OER
Mapping the Most Common U.S. City Names
Students discuss the most common U.S. place names. They map the locations of U.S. cities with the most common names and use an atlas, or an online map tool such as MapQuest or Yahoo Maps.
Curated OER
Discovering American Symbols
Help youngsters get to know their states and capitals, explore their own country, and study American symbolism. They take a "trip" across America collecting symbols, images, and information about each state as they go (through text and...
Curated OER
Our States, My State
Here is a very nice lesson on the shape of the United States, and the shapes of the individual states for your young geographers. They utilize worksheets embedded in the plan to color in a variety of states and to become familiar with...
Curated OER
Fifty States Field Day
Young scholars explore the 50 states in preparation for a special field day. On the actual field day, the oldest students in the school manage each of 50 physical activity stations. They share information about each state and introduce...
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Alaska Virtual Field Trip
Students participate in an on-line virtual field trip to the state of Alaska. In this U.S. Geography lesson, students research several Internet sites dealing with travel to Alaska and activities to participate in. Students create story...
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Sense of Place: No River Too Wide-Bridges
Fifth graders discover the history of their hometown Des Moines River. In this U.S. Geography lesson students speak with Iowans that tell stories of the settlers and early villages near the Des Moines River. Students document their...
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The Eerie Canal
Students discover bodies of water in the United States by investigating the Eerie Canal. In this U.S. Geography lesson, students discuss Lake Eerie and the canal that was built in order to transport goods. Students research the lake on...
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Kansas Crops: From Seeds to Food
First graders explore U.S. geography by researching food production. In this agriculture lesson, 1st graders identify the process of crops from a seed to a plate and discuss the importance of farmers in the production of such crops....
Curated OER
USA States and Capitals
Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by completing a map identification activity. In this states and capitals instructional activity, 5th graders examine a map of all 50 U.S. states and identify them as well as their capital cities....
Curated OER
Popcorn Geography
Students use kernels to create a "Top Corn-Producing States" map or graph. They read and round off numbers. Students identify on a U.S. outline map the location of corn-growing states. They create a visual (map or graph) illustration...
Curated OER
Traveling Cat Flown Home to Family
Students locate Wisconsin and Belgium on a world map, then read a news article about a cat that stowed away on ship from the U.S. to Europe. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with map and vocabulary...
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Immigration: Marijana's Story
Second graders explore world geography by researching U.S. history. In this immigration lesson plan, 2nd graders read the book Marijana's Story and discuss the main character, her goals, and the plot. Students complete a worksheet about...
Curated OER
Making a Report to President Washington
Learners gain an understanding of some of the challenges the U.S. faced at its birth. They are asked to compose a report on the state of the nation in 1790 (addressed to President George Washington), which includes a narrative, maps and...
Foreign Policy Research Institute
A Geography Lesson
Fewer and fewer people have a strong grasp of world geography, but this activity helps students understand geopolitics by creating their own original historical map. The activity requires selecting a country from the list provided,...
Curated OER
We Flip for Quarters!
Flip-books which represent one of five states are created by your class in this art and geography instructional activity. All of the materials for the flip-books are embedded in this inventive plan. They will make a book for: Kentucky,...
Curated OER
Culture Regions of the U.S.
Students identify the location of different cultural groups within the United States (agricultural, retirement, urban, etc.) They map these areas and analyze the correlation between the landscape of a given region and the type of...
Curated OER
Our Country's Geography
Third graders study geography. In this United States landforms lesson, 3rd graders create a map of the U.S. made out of dough. They use various edible treats to mark the country's capital, the plains, the mountains and the rivers &...
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Landmarks of the Underground Railroad
Students explore Civil Rights by reading several books in class. In this Underground Railroad lesson, students discuss The Story of Henry Box Brown and identify the location and functionality of the Underground Railroad. Students answer...
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Geography: Intro to Canada
Students investigate the geography of Canada by analyzing a map of the country. In this North American geography lesson, students identify the 13 provinces of Canada and their locations by examining a Canadian map. Students may use...
Curated OER
Geography Postcard Podcasting
Pupils complete a geography postcard activity using Podcasting. In this geography lesson, students research landforms and climates of various U.S. and Canadian regions. Pupils write a description of their travles in the form of a...
Curated OER
A "Boring" Lesson in Geography
Young geographers will enjoy this entertaining lesson on maps. You choose ten of the unusual town names that your learners found and provide activities that challenge your charges to apply their newfound geography skills. A worthwhile...
Curated OER
The Crash Scene
Fifth graders explore geography by participating in a mapping activity. In this engineering instructional activity, 5th graders identify the differences between latitude and longitude and practice locating precise points on a globe or...