Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Your Way Using Maps and Globes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students identify the similarities and differences between different maps and globes. Individually, they create a map of their classroom along with a compass rose. They also practice reading maps as a class and finding specific locations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magical Maps

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders discuss the importance of using maps and how they are used. After they listen to a folktale, they develop their own story line maps and write their own folktale to accompany a map. They also identify and locate the seven...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What do Maps Show: How to Read a Topographic Map

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers identify the characteristics of topographical maps. Using examples, they practice reading them and describing the information they gather from them. They also discover how to use the website from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Math with Maps and Globes

For Teachers K - 8th
Young scholars round out their math skills with these ‘round the world' ideas. In this math and geography lesson, students try out time zone sticks, a polar race, and tic-tac-globe to engage them in learning more about globes and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Through the Forest and Home Again: Maps Help Us Find Our Ways

For Teachers K - 1st
Students read Little Red Riding Hood, focusing on her path home to Grandma's house. In this language arts and geography lesson, students perform a reader's theater, re-creating the walk home and possible routes that could have been...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Ten: Direction

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore the concept of relative location. In this map lesson, students read I Hate English by Ellen Levine and consider how maps and globes help people to familiarize themselves with an area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Clouds-- Fly over a Late Winter Storm onboard a NASA Earth Observing Satellite

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study cloud data and weather maps to explore cloud activity.  In this cloud data lesson plan students locate latitude and longitude coordinates and determine cloud cover percentages. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Is Japan? What Direction Is It?

For Teachers 1st
First graders locate countries on maps and globes and learn about the hemispheres and the cardinal directions. They listen to books read out loud and dicuss geography.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SpellO': An Orienteering Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students participate in hands-on activities to practice orienting maps. Given activity cards, students accurately read maps and locate specific stations. Students collect information from the maps to spell a message when the activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capitals, Oceans, And Border States

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

Weather With a Latitude

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students read the temperature from a thermometer. For this weather lesson, students read a thermometer and record the temperature at twenty minute intervals. Students discuss results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Endangered Ecosystems

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Reading comprehension and note-taking skills are practiced as young ecologists embark on this journey. Explorers visit a website where they will read about three ecosystems that are in danger. They use interactive programs to build a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rosie's Walk

For Teachers K - 1st
Students use maps and globes to locate and describe locations, directions and scale. Using the maps, they identify man made or natural features of different environments. They practice using geographical terms to describe a specific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students complete activities to examine the properties of water. In this water science lesson, students read a book about water's forms and study a map or globe of the Earth to investigate water. Students discuss living things that need...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where is Shirley the Elephant?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young animal lovers engage in a lesson that's all about elephants. They access an elephant sanctuary website and read a story about Shirley the elephant. They perform a series of activities based upon that story, and also study about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading Around the World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars use the internet to identify the seven continents. Using maps, they locate and identify major physical features of Earth. They are read different books by various authors on the Earth and answer questions related to it....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: Water & Air

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The introduction to the lesson mentions a sailor's limited capacity to store drinking water on his ship. Pupils then set up an overnight experiment to remove freshwater from salt water by distillation. There is a math and map activity to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cleverest Thief

For Teachers K
Students practice their reading comprehension while listening to a classic folktale from India.  In this cultural storytelling lesson, students read the book The Cleverest Thief and complete word identification worksheets based on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tactics in the Persian Gulf: From Diplomacy to Force

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students trace the United States' involvement in Iraq from 1991 to today. They interpret a map of Iraq, evaluate possible causes and effects of events. They participate in, collect and analyze a poll regarding the next steps the US...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traditional Remedies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discover alternative medicines from around the globe.  In this world culture lesson, students read text from Africa, Ireland, Tibet and Tanzania discussing known remedies to diseases.  Students discuss with each other...
Unit Plan
California Polytechnic State University

Australian Geography Unit

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
At the heart of this resource is a beautifully detailed PowerPoint presentation (provided in PDF form) on the overall physical geography of Australia, basic facts about the country, Aboriginal history, and Australia culture and lifestyle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About the Equator, The Seven Continents and the Four Oceans

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students use a globe or map to locate the equator, oceans and continents. Using the internet, they spend time surfing through predetermined websites on continents and oceans. They write facts on different parts of the globe on index...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Population Distribution of Cartoon Characters Living On the Pages of Your Newspaper?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read various cartoons in their local newspaper and calculate the population demographics, spatial distribution and grouping of the characters. Using this information, they create a population distribution map and share them with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Do We Know About Africa?

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore Africa, its geography and climate. After completing a KWL chart, 1st graders locate Africa on a globe and discuss how its location on the earth affects its climate. Using the Internet and a given fact sheet,...