Curated OER
Quarters from the Coast
Students examine the Maine state quarter and discuss the features on the quarter that identify Maine as a coastal state. They identify coastal states and inland states on a map.
Curated OER
Mapping Your Local Community
First graders take a walking tour of their community to discover the names of numbered locations on a premade map. They then, create their own map of the community on the computer using Kidspiration software.
Curated OER
Map Readng And Giving Directions
Learners read a story to create the context for the lesson. Then they are given or create a community map. Then students use the scenario of being lost in order to role play giving directions to a partner to find a destination. The...
Curated OER
The Seven Continents Scavenger Hunt
Who doesn't enjoy an engaging scavenger hunt? Here, scholars listen to, and discuss, the informative text, Where is my Continent? by Robin Nelson. They then explore the seven continents and four major oceans using...
Curated OER
America: The Land We Live In: Landmarks
Students explore the concept of landmarks. In this landmark instructional activity, students brainstorm different landmarks around their community and nationally. Students then identify the patterns in Georgia O'Keeffe's...
Curated OER
Mapmaking: Colorado Quarter Reverse
Students examine the Colorado quarter reverse and draw symbols of the state's land and water features on maps. Using copies of the Colorado reverse, they color the coin design. They list reasons for the state's motto of "Colorful Colorado"
Curated OER
Japan
First graders investigate the similarities and differences between Japan and the United States. They develop a KWL chart, locate Japan and the U.S. on a globe, conduct Internet research on life in Japan, conduct an interview, and create...
Curated OER
Special Places in Our Community
Students compare and contrast cities whether they are large or small, rural or urban. They use digital photography to take pictures of the different types of cities.
Curated OER
Valentine Village
Students build a small city by using a half-gallon milk or juice carton to "build" a miniature home. They decorate their buildings with construction paper, yarn, beads, or whatever they have and become mailmen, delivering Valentine's to...
Curated OER
Schools
First graders complete a unit of lessons on school and how schools have changed. They read a Laura Ingalls Wilder excerpt, view and discuss a Norman Rockwell painting, conduct an interview, construct a school map, and create an ABC book...
Curated OER
The Desert Alphabet Book
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...
Curated OER
Community Cartography
Students use an inflatable globe which they wrap in plastic wrap. They use a permanent marker and outline the continents, and label major oceans and trace the equator. Students bring heir globes and use their projection for a discussion...
Curated OER
Community Helpers
Students identify examples of community services, identify jobs/services performed by community helpers and relationships between community needs and community services, and work cooperatively to create Bubble map, flyer, and Powerpoint...
Curated OER
Native Americans
First graders explore the lifestyles of several North American tribes. They investigate about the homes, food, transportation, and daily living habits of each tribe. Pupils use a map to locate several Native American tribes in North...
Curated OER
The Plains Native Americans
Students read The Buffalo Woman by Paul Goble and explore several aspects of Plains Indians cultures. They view historical photos of items from Plains cultures, reference maps and complete worksheets in small groups.
Curated OER
My Community
Students identify how their school has changed. In this local community lesson, students listen to a brief history of their town and school and interview someone that graduated from their school. Students then create a map of their...
Curated OER
Landforms
Students begin their examination of landforms. Using a map, they locate and identify the major landforms on Earth. They discuss how landforms affect the lifestyle of the community and determine which goods and services the community...
Curated OER
Fields of Candy Bars
Students research and write about the origins of the ingredients in candy bars. They taste them and describe what they are tasting. They use descriptive words to write a paragraph describing the candy bar. They research ingredients in...
Curated OER
Getting to Know My World
Students participate in hands-on activities using maps and globes to identify geographical features. Students use map legends to identify direction. Students locate oceans, continents, countries, states and cities. Handouts and...
Curated OER
BIGGER AND BIGGER: (We Live in a family, a neighborhood, a city, and the United States)
Students discover that they are part of bigger and bigger groups. They begin with families and work up to belonging to North America as they initiate a study of the whole country.
Curated OER
Where is Flat Stanley?
Students create a story map of the basic elements and significant events of the book Flat Stanley. Students brainstorm places they would like to visit if they had been flattened and then, write about an imagined experience. Students...
Curated OER
Cyber Hunt Activities: Lewis & Clark
Young scholars participate in cyber hunt activities involving Lewis and Clark in order to gain a better idea of what it was like to be an explorer of the vast western lands. In this history lesson, students may choose to study the route...
Curated OER
How to Teach Geography with KidPix II
Students use the computer program KidPix II to color a map of the world. In this world map lesson plan, students fill in different colors for different continents that are told to them on the program KidPix II.
Curated OER
Exploring Florida
Students explore the state of Florida. They study the basic facts associated with the state, such as : the capital, the state bird, and the state song. They locate places in Florida and about the climate, tourism, and agriculture.