Students investigate U.S. geography by exploring it's bodies of water. In this river formation lesson, students identify the reasons rivers are needed in our country by reading assigned text. Students examine a diagram which explains how...

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...

Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by completing a map identification activity. For this states and capitals lesson, 5th graders examine a map of all 50 U.S. states and identify them as well as their capital cities. Students are...

Young scholars explore the United States. In this U.S. geography and expository writing instructional activity, students select a place in the United States to research.  Young scholars take notes and create a travel "folder," or...

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...

Looking for a good lesson on the Colonial Period for your upper-elementary class? Then, this lesson is for you! They use website designs, U.S. travel publications, and maps to plan a family vacation to states which were part of the...

Use this U.S. History unit plan as a template for creating your own! Simply download the resource and edit the text fields with your own customized unit plan. This is a great jumping-off step, especially for newer teachers. 

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...

Learners identify the major U.S. cities. In this U.S. geography lesson, students work in pairs and use game cards to name various cities in the United States.

Learners 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. Learners answer...

Students explore an Internet website, locating and matching the shape of an elephant's head to a state in the U.S. They complete an Alaska worksheet, identifying other geographical locations surrounding Alaska.

Students investigate U.S. Currency by researching American Samoa.  In this monetary unit activity, students define the reverse and obverse of a coin while completing a currency related worksheet.  Students identify American...

Learners identify geographical locations in the midwestern United States. In this geography lesson plan, students identify 12 states and capitals and geographical features in the region by using U.S. maps. Learners use blank maps to fill...

Students explore U.S. geography by completing a research project about the National Parks. In this scenery image analysis instructional activity, students identify the different national parks in our country and observe paintings and...

Fifth graders explore U.S. geography by reading assigned text about American Indians. In this migration lesson, 5th graders identify the differences between Native Americans and European settlers who traveled through middle America in...

Students discover the ideals of Canada by analyzing its symbols.  For this Canadian culture lesson, students identify the symbols that established the U.S. as its own nation and compare them to important Canadian symbols....

Young scholars investigate the prejudice and racism that has existed in the U.S. for centuries by attending a field trip.  In this equality lesson, students visit the Tolerance Museum and discuss the history of the U.S.  Young...

Learners discover racism and slavery by completing a role playing activity. In this U.S. history lesson, students analyze documents from the Civil War era and describe the Fugitive Slave Law. Learners view a video on YouTube about the...

Students explore early 20th century steel making.  In this U.S. history steel making activity, students view and describe a postcard and a picture depicting exaggerated aspects of the steel industry.  Students listen to a poem...

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...

Though the format of this ELL lesson is confusing (the standards listed are for plate tectonics, yet the objectives are for American geography and holidays), a teacher could glean some ideas from the main idea. Here, pupils complete a...

Students identify countries of origin of their ancestors, graph patterns of migration to the U.S. and Hawaii, then utilize oral history as a primary document by interviewing their ancestors or parents to explain why they moved to their...

Learners gain a better understanding of the population of the region they live in by comparing U.S. census data on the internet.

Learners study the continents of the world. In this Internet geography instructional activity, students connect to online mapping games. Learners collaborate in order to develop their understanding of world geography, including countries...