Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nifty Fifty State Trivia

For Teachers 4th - 6th
A wonderful game on U.S. States Trivia awaits your class. In this geography lesson, they will play a Jeopardy-style game. All the worksheets with the questions and answers are embedded in this beautifully-designed plan. Your class should...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Tough Nut to Crack

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore agriculture by examining world geography. In this pecan cultivation lesson, 6th graders identify the history of the famous nut and the impact it has on the U.S. economy, diet and human body. Students define...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ozark Folk Culture and Geography in the Mountain View, Arkansas Area

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Upper grade through early high schoolers develop an understanding of Ozark culture, and the geography of the Ozark Plateau. They study place, location, human environmental impacts, and movement. This interesting plan incorporates muic,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Expanding the Mission: Historical Parks

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore U.S. geography by viewing a documentary in class. In this national parks lesson, students view video clips of individual national parks and locate them using Google Earth software. Students create a persuasive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capitals, Oceans, And Border States

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate geography by completing games with classmates. For this United States of America lesson, students examine a map of North America and identify the borders of Mexico and Canada as well as the Pacific and Atlantic....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facts, Fictions and Perceptions of Regions

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the different characteristics of the regions of the United States. They discuss places they have visited in the U.S., and in small groups conduct research on a selected region of the U.S. Each group labels a map of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People Behind the Parks

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Explore U.S. geography with your class by viewing a documentary. Show a portion of the Ken Burns documentary "The National Parks," and identify the individuals responsible for keeping the parks in order. Elementary and middle schoolers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonial Vacation Planner

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Did My Lunch Come From? A U.S. Regional Tour

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore the regions from which their food comes. In this social studies lesson, students identify the different agricultural products that are found in the major regions of the United States. Learners create a lunch menu.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography: Intro to Canada

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the geography of Canada by analyzing a map of the country.  In this North American geography lesson, students identify the 13 provinces of Canada and their locations by examining a Canadian map.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

States and Capitals, Mountains and Rivers

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students 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. Students use blank maps to fill...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Images of the Parks

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore U.S. geography by completing a research project about the National Parks. In this scenery image analysis lesson, students identify the different national parks in our country and observe paintings and images by famous...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Canadian Symbols

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students discover the ideals of Canada by analyzing its symbols.  In this Canadian culture lesson, students identify the symbols that established the U.S. as its own nation and compare them to important Canadian symbols....
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? For this elementary geography lesson, learners are assigned specific states to research using the information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. History: What Happened Here?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students apply the global positioning system to create maps of local historical sites. By collaborating with local historical groups, they research events and relate them to broader, national history. In addition to writing essays...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Personal Stories of the National Parks

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore historical information about U.S. national parks using the stories of Edward and Margaret Gehrke as a primary source document. In this United States geography, history, and literacy lesson, students view the diary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of Geography -- The United States and the Republic of Turkey

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Preteens review the five themes of geography. In groups, they examine the United States and Turkey to discover how geography can impact the way people live. They create a foldable for each country, listing information for each of the...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Ring of Fire

For Teachers 6th Standards
Over a period of 35 years, earthquakes and volcanoes combined only accounted for 1.5 percent of the deaths from natural disasters in the United States. The 15th lesson in a 20-part series connects the locations of earthquakes and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tears of Joy Theatre Presents Anansi the Spider

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Accompany the African folktale, Anansi the Spider, with a collection of five lessons, each equipped with supplemental activities. Lessons offer multidisciplinary reinforcement in English language arts, social studies, science,...
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

Comparative Geography I

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students use population density and other statistics to compare countries. They find the population density for the countries listed in the table. Students compare findings with a partner, and then share with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As Simple as Beans: Canada's Population

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students gather facts about Canada from various maps. In this Canada activity, students use beans to relate the populations of the U.S. and Canada. Students create population distribution maps based on the placement of the beans. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Marine Sanctuaries Shipwrecks

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Junior oceanographers access the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Database and plot the locations of several shipwrecks. Shipwrecks are always an enthralling subject and this activity allows your learners to act as...
Lesson Plan
1
1
National Museum of the American Indian

The A:Shiwi (Zuni) People: A Study in Environment, Adaptation, and Agricultural Practices

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Discover the connection of native peoples to their natural world, including cultural and agricultural practices, by studying the Zuni people of the American Southwest. This lesson includes examining a poster's photographs, reading...