Lesson Plan
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Learning About Maps

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students investigate the many uses and features of maps and globes and locate where they live on both. In this map lesson, student play a travel game and create their own maps to explore states, continents, countries, and islands.
Lesson Plan
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Crater Lakes and the Volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students study volcanoes. In this Earth science lesson plan, students read, discuss and take notes on the volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains. This lesson also includes an art project.
Lesson Plan
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A Geography and Ecology Lesson for Grades 4-7

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore many of the unusual geographical features of the Amazon River region, and explain the importance of preserving the tropical rainforest.
Worksheet
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Agents of Erosion and Deposition

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, students play a game of shoreline charades using picture symbols and other games to cover the concept of erosion or deposition.
Lesson Plan
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Watershed Island

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students make a clay model and a geographic map of a watershed. They talk about the differences between the two representations and the potential human threats to watersheds.
Lesson Plan
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Earthquakes on the Surface

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students view topographic or relief maps of Southern California and discuss what they see. They make predictions based on the topography of the region.
Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics Boundaries

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students discover how to create a model of tectonic plates and study the interactions of these plates as they slowly move on the asthenosphere. They see and experience what happens at each type of plate boundary and why there are certain...
Lesson Plan
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Climb a Mountain, Raft a River on Your Own Land

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students are introduced to the characteristics of a map. As a class, they discuss the uses of public lands in their community and develop symbols for each feature. They use the symbols to create a map showing the recreational uses of...
Lesson Plan
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Easy as Pi

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students describe the importance of structural features that increase surface area in a coral reef habitat.  In this investigative lesson students quantify the impact of modifications on surface area in model habitats. 
Lesson Plan
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Strengthening Democracy In Latin America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider how to strengthen democratic principles in Latin America. In this government systems instructional activity, students explore the challenges to democratic forms of government in Latin America as they examine primary...
Lesson Plan
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The Geography of the Philippines

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the geographic features and population distribution of the Philippines. They analyze maps, take a quiz, define monsoon, and discuss how the people in the Philippines have adapted to their environment.
Lesson Plan
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Urban Changes

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore how landscapes undergo constant changes with urban development. They plan and build their own "city" by including features that have minimal resource demands to sustain the city itself.
Lesson Plan
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About the U.S.A.

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students research the United States and discover its different climate zones, geographical features, animal life, and various cultures. Students complete a research chart using books, encyclopedias and the internet and present their...
Lesson Plan
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Getting through the day duck style

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars are introduced to how animals (and ourselves) cope with daily life. They discover that living things need certain conditions to survive. Students investigate how living things (including ourselves and a duck) have special...
Lesson Plan
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NASA's Mars Gamble Pays Off Part 2

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders explore the planet of Mars. In this Earth Science activity, 10th graders read articles on the make up of Mars. Students complete a worksheet on their reading.
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Traveling with Flat Stanley

For Teachers 4th - 5th
students use the internet to gather geographical data about a state of their choice. Using new vocabulary, they describe the features present in the state, its climate and attractions. They develop a PowerPoint presentation to share...
Lesson Plan
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Strengthening Democracy in Africa

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers analyze democratic advances in Africa. In this global issues lesson, students research Internet, video, and print sources regarding current political developments in Africa. Middle schoolers create e-collages or digital...
Lesson Plan
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Walking on Frozen Ground

For Teachers K - 4th
Students listen to an Elder speak about permafrost structures in their area. In this permafrost lesson plan, students listen to the guest speaker, take a tour outside to view permafrost structures, and draw them.
Lesson Plan
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World Projections

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify map projections and examine polar maps. For this map skills lesson, students use a flat world map to identify various projections and calculate the distances between locations by using a map scale.
Worksheet
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Hurricane Strength: Spatial Association of Wind Speed and Water Temperature

For Students 6th - 9th
In this hurricane worksheet, students read and analyze satellite images of hurricane Rita. They complete 4 short answer questions about it.
Lesson Plan
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Fighting Soil Erosion

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students complete hands-on activities and watch a video to learn about soil erosion. In this erosion instructional activity, students use hands-on studies to investigate soil erosion. Students then visit the given websites to identify...
Lesson Plan
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Let's Go! Virtual Yellowstone Tour

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research the geologic wonders of Yellowstone National Park. They locate the main geologic features of Yellowstone on a map of the park. Students write a description of the geologic features to be included on the map for a...
Unit Plan
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Water, Water Everywhere, and Nary a Drop to Drink!

For Teachers 1st
Students sing the continent song and locate oceans between the continents on a map. They read "They Earth is Mostly Ocean" and copy notes into their journals. They watch a demonstration of water and saltwater evaporated to see what is...
Lesson Plan
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Sedimentary Structures- An Adventure in Painting and Collage

For Teachers K - 6th
Students identify and interpret concepts about how the Earth was formed and convey some of these ideas in a painting. Students experiment with different types of paints and paint applicators to achieve a variety of visual textures....