Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Street Where You Live: Online Mapping

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students access the Internet and use Google Maps to pinpoint their home address and get directions to and from school. they write the directions in paragraph format.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Global Grapefruit - Representing a 3-Dimensional Globe on a 2-Dimensional Map

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students compare and contrast world maps and globes. They convert a 3-dimensional globe to a 2-dimensional map. They are introduced to the Mercator map projection. They observe map distortions of shape, area, distance, directions and angle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography: Mapping Newspaper Coverage

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners examine the locations of stories appearing in newspapers and determine where to assign reporters. Using various maps, they connect the stories to the correct maps and create charts of the story locations. Students explain their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Galactic Address

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover their place in the universe.  In this astronomy lesson, students identify their location on various maps that have increasingly larger scales.  In the end, the students write their address in terms of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Schoolyard Geology

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Discover that maps show information about an area and that they have common features like scales and legends. View an aerial map of your school and find features on the map such as the playground, roads, and trees. Trace the outline of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Neighborhood Walking Tour

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars list specific boundaries in their school neighborhood and explain their possible purpose. They examine a neighborhood and see what connects us and what divides us. They, in groups, make maps of various neighborhoods and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saudi Arabia -- Future city

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders summarize an article on Masdar. For this summarizing lesson students clearly explain three of the four points provided in an outline of the article. The students write an essay and identify six physical features of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geographic Regions of Arkansas

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine maps that illustrate the various regions in Arkansas. They label the individual regions on a blank map that is divided into the regions and color each region a different color. Groups research a region and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Early History of Haiti

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders make list of places Columbus explored on his first journey to Americas, locate island of Hispaniola on map, examine groups of people who have inhabited island, complete blank map and key of Hispaniola, and research early...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coordinate Seating: Using a Coordinate System

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover coordinate systems.  In this mapping lesson, 4th graders create a coordinate system for theater seating.  Students observe a video based on a theater's seating map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Majority Rules

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students color code a map of the United States and label the amount of Electoral votes each state has. In this Electoral College lesson plan, students conduct a vote of their own.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Philosophy of Social Studies Education

For Teachers Higher Ed
Learn how to distinguish between curriculum and instruction. Utilize concept mapping strategies to organize a philosophy of elementary social studies education. Your class will be able to explain the process they underwent to organize...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Pollution in Our Watershed

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
The concept of a how pesticides and other chemicals pass through a watershed can be difficult for younger learners to grasp without a concrete example. In the activity here, some blank paper, markers, and a spray bottle are all you need...
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Bearing Witness

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
A controversial construction project in South America, the Belo Monte dam, is endangering local cultures, ecosystems, and communities. High schoolers create a concept map based on an online article they read before engaging in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Move Around the Map

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders, while working with a partner, label and identify on a tarp map six major cities and five major rivers in Indiana. They traverse along the rivers utilizing a different locomotor skill (hop, skip, walk, run, leap, gallop,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Zones of Conflict

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read maps and identify specific countries involved in conflict. They classify countries in cultural realms. They relate maps to what they know about world conflict.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of the Pencil

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research and write about the pencil. They organize the research using concept maps and write an essay using the writing process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where In the World Are You?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders fill in blank copies of the United States Map and then the World Map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing a Literature Tree

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use prior knowledge of fairy tales and fables to create a literature tree map. They categorize literature as fiction or nonfiction and use bubble maps to show features.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continents and Oceans on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Play Geography Twister

For Teachers K - 12th
Pupils practice geography skills by playing a game based on Twister. Students manipulate their position on a map by placing their arms and legs on the appropriate state or country called out by the teacher.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study watersheds and use topo maps to help explore where they are located.  In this watershed lesson students delineate their watershed on their own. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Treasure Hunt!

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners follow directions on a worksheet to follow directions on a map of the United States and Territories of the United States. In this directions worksheet, students use a compass rose and learn the directions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Should We Put a Store?

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students analyze population data. They convert population data into simple density maps to help make decisions about their world. They select the best location for a school store based on population density. They present their maps...