Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Follow the Light

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Here is another in the interesting series of lessons that use the special State Quarters as a learning tool. During this lesson plan, pupils learn about lighthouses, maps, the cardinal directions on a compass, and U.S. geography. There...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dark Days on the Prairie

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore U.S. geography by researching agriculture. For this dust bowl lesson, students complete a cause and effect worksheet based upon the dust bowls that covered a large portion of Oklahoma and Texas in the early 1900's....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Geography: The Midwest

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research agricultural products of the Midwest. In this Midwest lesson, students watch a video about the geography of the Midwest, discuss how topographical features were formed and review the agricultural products the Midwest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Design Archaeology- U.S. Map

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students examine the U.S. map and identify cultural areas. In this archaeology lesson, students locate cultural areas on the U.S. map and fill in the proper locations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

States and Capitals Activity

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore states and capitals.  In this U.S. geography lesson, students practice locomotor skills playing Freeze Tag. Students generate the matching capital when given a specific state name in order to continue the game.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Geography- The Northeast

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the geography of the Northeast states. In this map skills lesson, students are shown a map of the Northeast states and identify the state names and borders. Students construct individual maps of the Northeast using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Agriculture Cares for the World

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore world geography by analyzing agriculture. In this dietary habits lesson, students discuss the role parents play in their children's diet and where the food comes from. Students write agricultural research paragraphs and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Features - Lesson 2 - U.S. Political Map Grade 4-5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students locate water features on maps. In this geography lesson, students complete worksheets that require them to identify water features on a U. S. political map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Know Your Area

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Young scholars investigate transit by analyzing their school surroundings. In this local geography lesson, students identify their school in relation to the rest of their state, country and globe. Young scholars discuss their personal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trading Traditions: Based on the American Samoa Quarter Reverse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate U.S. Currency by researching American Samoa.  In this monetary unit lesson, students define the reverse and obverse of a coin while completing a currency related worksheet.  Students identify American Samoa...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immigrants to Kansas: Why Did They Come

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore U.S. History by researching Kansas. In this immigration lesson, students discuss the benefits of immigrating to a state like Kansas in the 1800's while writing their thoughts and research in a reporter's notebook....
Lesson Plan
US Mint

Rename That State!

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
As Shakespeare famously wrote, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," but can the same be said for a state? In this elementary geography lesson, students are assigned specific states to research using the information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Corn Exports Visually

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners study imports and exports and the countries that import the most corn from the U.S. They construct mini paper corn plants and label a map with these plants to represent the amount of corn the U.S. exports to countries around the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

About the U.S.A.

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students research the United States and discover its different climate zones, geographical features, animal life, and various cultures. Students complete a research chart using books, encyclopedias and the internet and present their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Inventions Change the World: The Enigma Machine

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore WWII by analyzing technological advances. In this invention instructional activity, 3rd graders discuss the use of the Enigma machine which decoded private German messages that communicated with U-boats. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jamestown Celebrates 400th Anniversary

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students view a world map and identify the locations of England and Virginia and discuss what kinds of things they would take with them on this kind of trip. They read the words in the news box on the student page and fill in the blanks...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Louisiana Purchase

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students use maps, lecture and discussion to explore the unique contributions to the U.S. resulting from the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. They complete worksheets, label maps and participate in discussion groups.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oh, the Regions

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Focus on the geography of Oklahoma.  In this activity, learners compare different geographic regions in Oklahoma, create a collage to share their results, and identify important landforms throughout the United States, such as the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Monarch Migration

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
In this science and geography worksheet, students read a short passage about the migration pattern of the monarch butterfly. Students trace a path on the U.S. map showing the winter and spring migration.
Lesson Plan
US Mint

Symbols in My Eyes

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Explore the hidden meanings behind the images on US currency with this elementary school lesson on symbolism. Starting with a class discussion about symbols, children go on to brainstorm different objects that represent the Unites...
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking for a Windshield Experience

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students identify American geography by participating in a national parks activity. In this road trip lesson, students view the Ken Burns documentary "National Parks" and identify the importance of automobiles in the park system....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Read a Transportation Story

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research the building of a transcontinental road. In this railroad history lesson plan, 3rd graders discuss past and present transportation. Students look at historical photos and compare and contrast photos from today.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mural Mania

For Teachers K - 5th
Students research and discuss symbols and features of their state. They create a mural representing their state and design a quarter for their state.