Carnegie Mellon University
International Perspectives to Climate Change 1
After a lecture about how the first industrial revolution triggered the path to climate change, your environmental studies class discusses what the impacts are. In a culminating activity, they get into groups and identify countries on a...
Curated OER
"The Drum"
Second graders read and discuss the folktale "The Drum" from India. They also answer story comprehension questions, complete an adjectives and verb worksheet, and label a map of India. Students sequence events from the story and make...
Curated OER
The Mekong River
Junior geographers explore the region through which the Mekong flows, its pathway, the landscape, how people depend on the Mekong, and future uncertainties. They apply the five themes of geography to examine the region. They create a...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 1: On the Road with Marco Polo: A Boy in 13th Century Venice
Learners investigate Marco Polo's life as a young boy in 13th century Venice. They analyze maps, explore various websites, complete a chart and answer discussion questions, and create a travel brochure about visiting 13th century Venice.
Curated OER
Zoo-Goers Ready to Greet Baby Panda
The Smithsonian's National Zoo, also known as the Washington Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Youngsters read and discuss a news article about Tai Shan, baby panda that was one of the zoos most famous residents. They...
Curated OER
Continents
Young scholars investigate World Geography by researching the different continents. In this Asian Geography lesson, students discuss the continent of Pangaea and color a worksheet of the continents. Young scholars locate China on the map...
Curated OER
Biodiversity Memory Match Up
Students are introduced to the animals of Asia. In this biodiversity lesson, students use interactive maps to identify animals from Asia, then play a memory game to reinforce the information.
Curated OER
Geography of China (Tibet): Dalai Lama Day Three of Five
Sixth graders research another culture. In this geography and culture lesson plan, 6th graders read about the geography of Tibet, compare the United States and Tibet, use various resources to research information about Tibet and discuss...
Curated OER
The Silk Road, An Ancient Internet
Students examine how goods and ideas moved along an ancient trade route between China and Europe. They make charts of items, ideas, etc. that were transported along the Silk Route.
Curated OER
Where are the Watersheds in San Francisco?
Students create a mental map of San Francisco. They compare it with actual topographical maps of the city. Then they label various locations on the San Francisco Hillshade map and locate watershed boundaries.
Curated OER
Comparing Countries
Students compare facts about different countries. In this comparing instructional activity, students collect information about the US and another country and compare them. Students locate countries on the map and make a hypothesis about...
Curated OER
Giving Generously
Students explore philanthropy. In this service learning lesson plan, students read Runaway Rice Cake, identify the elements of the story, and make rice cakes to share with others.
Curated OER
In Celebration of the Silk Road
Sixth graders explore the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road with a focus on a province in China to identify artifacts and research how these items arrived in the city of Turpan.
Curated OER
More Than One Grain of Rice
Students explore mathematics, geography and agriculture by studying world rice production. In this production of rice lesson plan, students read One Grain of Rice and use a worksheet grid to calculate how much rice was received. Students...
Curated OER
Chinese Calendar
Third graders listen to a Mak Kam's, "My Chinatown: One Year in Poems," before locating China on a map. They discuss the Chinese language and culture, comparing it to the American culture. They determine which animal sign they were born...
Curated OER
Korean Lesson Plan
Seventh graders are introduced to the history of Korea. Using maps, they identify the reasons why Korea is important geographically. They also research the reasons for the Korean War and how actions of the United States and Korea led...
Curated OER
The Three Gorges Dam- Should it be Completed?
Learners research and analyze the geographic problem of whether or not the Three Gorges Dam should be completed. Students take a position on the issue, gather information related to their position, present their conclusions, and write a...
Curated OER
The Fine Art of Paper-Cutting
Students create original examples of the ancient Chinese Folk Art technique of Paper-Cutting in this middle-level lesson highly adaptable for either the Art classroom or a Social Studies class.
Curated OER
I'm Dreaming of a Sustainable Christmas
Students examine global trade. In this global economics lesson, students visit websites to learn about trade with China and the environmental damage of global trade.
Curated OER
Where is the Water?
Learners explore freshwater ecosystems. In this geography lesson, students brainstorm all the lakes and rivers they know then mark them on a map. Learners will then mark all the major freshwater resources on each of the seven continents,...
Curated OER
Wind Circulation, Surface Currents and Climate
High schoolers describe connections between wind patterns, surface currents, and ocean climate zones. In small groups, they color the ocean climate zones in four different shades of blue. Students then answer questions like what four...
Curated OER
Who Dropped What into the Melting Pot?
Students show the movement of people to the United States from other countries on maps. They study the geographic cultural roots of foods that contribute to the melting pot of food in America. They research where an ingredient comes from...
Curated OER
Discovering the World Virtually
Students experience world adventures through the internet. In this technology lesson, students use a suggested internet site and explore each expedition. Students can virtually travel such lands as China.
Curated OER
Second Star To the Left and Straight On 'Till Morning" - Spreadsheet Driven Exploration of Pacific Asian Geography
Students explore the geography of Pacific Asia. The class is divided into two groups to participate in a role-play activity where they act as European explorers. Students utilize mathematics, spreadsheet and internet technology to make...