National Wildlife Federation
Quantifying Land Changes Over Time in Areas of Deforestation and Urbanization
Is qualitative or quantitative research more convincing when it comes to climate change? In the eighth instructional activity during this 21-part series, scholars begin by performing a quantitative analysis of deforestation and...
New York City Department of Education
Grade 2 Literacy in Social Studies: Where Is Home?
What makes a community? How communities differ? Young scholars research different types of communities, small rural towns, and large crowded cities. They respond to writing prompts, and write essays in groups to understand the wide...
Curated OER
Letters from the Road
Learners examine and differentiate between rural, urban, and suburban communities. They describe their local areas, view and discuss the images on the West Virginia Quarter, and write a friendly letter describing a camping trip.
Curated OER
Do It Write
Students investigate types of communities. In this communities lesson, students read the book The Country Mouse and City Mouse and identify the characteristics of the city and country. Students participate in a pen-pal program with a...
Curated OER
What Type of Community?
Students compare and contrast suburban, rural and urban communities. They read books such as The Little Red Hen and identify the type of community in each book. Using computer software, they write about each type of community and...
Curated OER
What's Mongolia Really Like?
Students discover the people of Mongolia. In this social studies lesson, students look at the Mongolian nomadic culture by reading a letter written by a member of the Peace Corps. They describe the different types of communities found in...
Curated OER
U.S. History: The Second Great Migration
Students examine the migration of rural African Americans to northern cities following World War !!. After predicting the effects of cultural and economic factors, they write essays explaining the impact of migration on communities and...
Curated OER
Homeless in our Community
Third graders explore homelessness in their local community. In this service project/social studies lessons, children research local areas where homeless people reside, discuss global acceptance and unity, and visit a local food bank.
Curated OER
Pets Around the World
Pupils communicate via e-mail with other students to learn about pets, animals of interest , and geography from different parts of the world. Vocabulary focuses on rural, urban, and suburban areas.
Curated OER
Culture Regions of the U.S.
Learners identify the location of different cultural groups within the United States (agricultural, retirement, urban, etc.) They map these areas and analyze the correlation between the landscape of a given region and the type of...
Curated OER
Communities Around the World
Students investigate the idea of community by taking a field trip. In this civics lesson, students participate in a supervised walk around their neighborhood while identifying characteristics and objects that make their home town...
Curated OER
Geography of the Wasatch Front
Pupils examine and discuss urban geography and land-cover types along the Wasatch Front. They analyze thermal images, create collages, and predict surface and air temperatures from aerial photos in the Salt Lake City Valley.
Curated OER
Environment: Assess Your Habitat's Health
Students research their ecozone in Canada and label on maps various parks and wildlife areas. They role-play as doctors with their ecozones as patients and search for symptoms from pollution, urbanization, loss of habitat, and decline of...
Curated OER
What's Mongolia Really Like?
Students look at rural Mongolian nomadic culture through the eyes of a Peace Corps Volunteer and examine the dynamics of a people in transition. They give one important reason for migration from a rural to an urban setting and explain...
Curated OER
Geography: Mapping Neighborhoods
Students examine their neighborhoods and draw maps reflecting land use. In addition, they make predictions about their community's future. Students also consider the impact of business and industry on their communities and predict ...
Curated OER
Be a Building Detective!
Students examine and visit a building in Arkansas. They examine the history and learn more about preservation of historical buildings. They choose a building they would like to learn more about and research its history.
Curated OER
Orphan Trains
Students are introduced to the concept of orphan trains. In groups, they research the history of the New York Children's Aid Society and begin to identify the social-trade offs involved on the orphan trains. They examine the geneological...
Curated OER
Lending Discrimination and the Community Reinvestment Act
Write about economic and banking issues of concern to the public. Investigate lending discrimination and the impact of the 1977 Community Reinvestment Act. Use a guide to do research and write an essay.
Curated OER
Analyzing the Job Market for Babysitting in Your Neighborhood
Learners conduct research on a neighborhood in Canada. In this data analysis instructional activity, students use data from the 2006 Canadian census to draw conclusions about a population group.
Curated OER
U.S. History: The Progressive Era
Students examine the Colonial Revival Movement as a response to industrialization and immigration. focusing on Deerfield, Connecticut, they create a documentary artifact reflecting the period.
Curated OER
Crystal Meth
Young scholars read and discuss an article on the devastating effects of crystal meth on a fetus development in mice. They relate this research to the possible causes of birth defects in babies whose mothers have used meth during...
Curated OER
Traveling for Water
Students explore global water contamination and water shortage problems. In this geography/ecology instructional activity, students gain information about the lack of safe drinking water in many countries. Students read, use websites,...
Curated OER
Country Research
Sixth graders research a given country using teacher selected websites. They gather notes about their country in an organized manner. They then create a PowerPoint including a reference page displaying the information they gathered.
Curated OER
Between the Rivers
Second graders compare and contrast historical American cultures. In this American history lesson, 2nd graders participate in reading, writing, oral, and hands on activities. Students discuss the similarities and differences...