Middle schoolers go on a GPS scavenger hunt. They use GPS receivers to find designated waypoints and report back on what they found. They compute distances between waypoints based on the latitude and longitude, and compare with the...

Middle schoolers create a digital photo map of the world. In this digital photo map lesson plan, students pick topics such as the Olympics, natural disasters, or trip planning and create a photo map on the computer.

Sixth graders use skills and knowledge that they gained from their Tibet unit to formulate a final product of their Tibet journey. This study covers topics such as Tibet's geographical location, religious beliefs, customs, dress, and way...

From the layers of Earth's spheres to latitude and longitude to looking at topographic maps, learners discover the elements of Earth's systems. 

How do we know where we are in the world? A presentation for middle schoolers explains absolute location and other geography terms such as relative location. It also gives scholars the opportunity to practice finding absolute location on...

Scholars investigate levels of nitrogen dioxide in the Pacific Northwest by examining the role of nitrogen in air pollution and how remote sensing can be used to measure nitrogen levels. An Excel spreadsheet calculates the difference...

Here is an interesting lesson on satellite tracking. Learners use various tracking techniques to find out where they go on a daily basis, what the environmental conditions are, and what they are doing during their "migrations." A...

Learners explain why compass angles need to be corrected for regional magnetic variation. They observe the difference between magnetic and true north. Each student measures the angle of variation for a town in a different state.

Students identify the latitude and longitude of various locations and calculate the distance between two given coordinate points. They read an eBook, explore the City Zen program, and complete a worksheet.

Students investigate the use of latitude and longitude to locate specific locations on Earth and evaluate that location as a potential landing site for researchers, terrestrial or alien space missions.

Students plot stranding sites onto a map using latitude and longitude as well as compass directions with respect to coastal features. They identify several species of marine animals that might become stranded; distinguish their...

Students discover what the latitude and longitude of their location is. They start walking and measure their shadow. They fill in a chart to discover the approximate time.

Students examine computerized data maps in order to create graphs of the amount of snowfall found at certain latitudes by date. Then they compare the graphs and the data they represent. Students present an analysis of the graphs.

Students hypothesize the location of the sun in the sky at diferent times of day and at different latitudes. They perform several experiments to provide evidence for their hypothesis. Experiments including observing the sun's position at...

Students identify the location of Pearl Harbor and Hawaiian Islands on a map. In this map skills lesson, students use latitude and longitude coordinates to locate various places of importance of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Students practice map skills. In this map skills lesson, students locate the cities of New York and Paris on a map. Students read about the flight made by Charles Lindbergh in May 1927 from New York to Paris. Students answer 8 questions...

Middle schoolers, through teacher lecture and class discussion, explore historical methods of navigation: dead reckoning and celestial navigation.

Young scholars practice making a map of a continent and correctly plotting five cities on that map. They place latitude and longitude lines on a map, determine the need for various map projections and explain why map scales are necessary.

Students research and demonstrate volcanic activity. In this volcanism lesson plan, students research the types of volcanoes and define related terms using the Internet. They demonstrate volcanic activity with water, corn syrup, and flour.

Students explain and explain the concept of a grid system. They define absolute and relative location and develop an imaginary city on graph paper using a grid system.

Students practice finding the location of cities across the world by using an interactive Web site, and figure out the world's time and the value of time zones the world over.

Students examine a variety of sand samples from throughout the world. On an index card, they write the characteristics of the sand and draw what the grains look like to use during the activity. Using a map, they practice plotting...

Students make a grid and coordinate system map of their classroom as they investigate why it is important to have a common map making system. They look at how landmarks are used for navigating an area.

Learners read about a volcano and use the latitude and longitude information to plot and describe the volcano on the map. They discuss patterns seen on the map. In addition, they color code a map according to zones, plates, etc.