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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Second and third graders practice with basic map skills. They create their own map including a legend and a compass rose. This fabulous plan has many excellent websites linked which allow learners to explore maps of all kinds; including...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scaling it Down: Caves Have Maps, Too

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Measurement and map skills are the focus of this lesson, where students crawl through a "cave" made out of boxes, desks and chairs, observing the dimensions.  Your young geographers measure various aspects of the cave and practice math...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Topographic Mapping Skills

For Students 5th - 9th
For this geography worksheet, students read an excerpt about topographic maps and why they are useful for various jobs. They also respond to eleven questions that follow related to the excerpt and locating specific map points on the map...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the News

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore cartography.  For this map skills and map making lesson, Students work in groups to create wall size world maps including legends, compass roses, latitude and longitude, and physical features.  Students collect current...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States Map- Map Legend/City Symbols

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars investigate the United States map. In this map skills geography lesson, students explore city symbols on the map legend and identify them. Young scholars use post-it notes to mark various symbols.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Map Keys

For Students 5th - 8th
In this geography worksheet, students identify who a cartographer is and what they do specifically. They study an outline map of a fictitious island and then, respond to the three questions that follow. Finally, students add three more...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States Map

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students describe cities they are familiar with. In this United States Map lesson, students understand how cities are listed on a map. Students become aware of a map legend and the information in it.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Walk Around the School: Mapping Places Near and Far

For Teachers K - 1st
After reading Pat Hutchins’ Rosie’s Walk, have your young cartographers create a map of Rosie’s walk. Then lead them on a walk around the school. When you return class members sequence the walk by making a list of how the class got from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the Census

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students learn why the census makes a difference. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students learn the key elements of cartography, examine the difference between data and their representation, and create a map using census data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waldseemuller's Map: World 1507

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate the 1507 word map. In this world geography lesson, students examine the details of each section of the map and then draw conclusions about how the people of 1507 understood the world. Students are evalated on...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

BOLTSS Map

For Students 8th - 12th
In this geography worksheet, students identify the six features always used on maps. They identify each of these features by the acronym BOLTSS. Students examine the Melbourne Cricket Ground shown and respond to the 4 questions that follow.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waldseemüller’s Map: World 1507

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students take a closer look at historical maps. In this primary source analysis lesson, students examine the first world map produced by Martin Waldseemuller. Students complete the included map analysis worksheet and then write letters...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Features of Our Community

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read about and discuss natural features of communities. They listen to a guest speaker, such as a park ranger to expand their knowledge of natural features. They go on a field trip, if possible, to a local zoo or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Political Map

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the symbols found in a map legend. In this map skills lesson, students locate the legend on a political map and explain what each of the symbols mean. Students locate and identify several symbols on the map.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What You Can Learn From a Map

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students discover how to interpret maps. In this geography skills lesson, students explore geographic themes as they complete worksheet activities regarding road maps, shaded relief maps, and topographic maps.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map It With Pixie

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use the computer program 'Pixie' to create a topographic, detailed map for the state they live in. In this mapping skills lesson plan, 4th graders use Pixie to make a map of their state that includes topographic features,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What You Can Learn From a Map

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the use of road maps, shadeded relief maps, and topographic maps.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

United States Map- Land Elevation

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore a physical map. In this map skills lesson, students discuss examples of elevation and investigate the symbols used to identify elevation on a map. Students use the map to identify various land elevations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the Garden

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners discuss maps, the features on a map, and why maps are important. They make a map of a garden they will be planting, complete with symbols that represent the various plants they choose to plant.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Put Me in My Place: Using Alphanumeric Grids to Locate Places

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students practice locating points on a large wall grid and create and label a neighborhood map. In this geography lesson, students spell and discuss places as the teacher places them on the map. They discuss the concept of an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do I Get There? Planning a Safe Route to School

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
One much-needed skill for young learners is direction giving. Have your class plan and draw a safe route for them to travel from home to school. They will also draw places and items that are in between home and school in order to build a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our 50 States

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify the location of the 50 states using an interactive map. They practice geography skills by playing a fun game. Pupils become familiar with the state abbreviations for the US states. Students become familiar with the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Places in My World

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore where they are located on the globe. In this maps and globes lesson, 2nd graders use a map to show where they live and  show the cardinal directions. Students identify characteristics of mountains, flat land,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesopotamia

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students map Mesopotamia. In this Geography lesson, students are introduced to Ancient Mesopotamia. Students use an atlas to label the defining features and areas of Mesopotamia on a map.