California Polytechnic State University
Australian Geography Unit
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.
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TE Activity: The Trouble with Topos
Students study the uses of topographical maps including the many forms that they take. They discover that the map features show its intended use such as city maps, wilderness maps, and state maps. They complete a worksheet in which they...
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Go For the Gold!: Ancient Olympics For Grades 4-8
Students create an ancient Greek newspaper with articles about the Olympics. They perform online research on the pentathalon. Students discuss present-day atheletes. They create a map of cities where the olympics were held.
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Where is the Water?
Students explore freshwater ecosystems. In this geography lesson, students brainstorm all the lakes and rivers they know then mark them on a map. Students will then mark all the major freshwater resources on each of the seven continents,...
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Celebrate Beef
Students read about the history of cattle, discover new technologies, and fill out worksheets about cattle use. In this cattle lesson plan, students identify states that raise cattle and draw pictures of how cattle is used.
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The Postcard
Students listen to the book "Kate on the Coast" and plot her journey on a map. Then they decorate, address, and write a message on a postcard. They discuss where the postcards are being sent and plot the destinations on map.
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Trout across America
Students research trout and salmon and create a report. In this trout and salmon lesson plan, students research where trout live in the United States, fill out a graphic organizer, and create a report on their findings.
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Ratios, Proportions, and Percents
Eighth graders use ratios and proportions to solve real-life problems. In this using ratios and proportions to solve real-life problems lesson, 8th graders estimate the cost of a road trip. Students estimate the distance...
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GALIMOTO
Second graders identify Malawi, Africa on a map of Africa and demonstrate their resourcefulness and creativity by making their own galimoto.
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Ancient Greece
Students discover the world of ancient Greece. In this ancient Greece instructional activity, students compare and contrast the culture of Athens and Sparta. Students also compare the democracy in Athens with the democracy in the United...
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Urban Geo Worksheet
In this urban geography worksheet, students respond to 20 short answer questions about urban geography after they have read a related article. The article is not included.
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Scrapbook of Freedom
Third graders examine what it was like for a child traveling in the Underground Railroad.
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Geography of Southeast Asia
Ninth graders study the geography and culture in ten Southeast Asian countries. They examine the development of the culture of these countries and how it is affected by their geographic locations.
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Walking that Line
Students attempt to describe and use longitude and latitude. They will identify different countries, their neighbors, and borders around the world. Included in the lesson the students identify natural features that control the borders of...
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Mexico: A Look At Its Culture and Geography
Students canvass the Mexican geography, culture, dress, language, crafts, and traditions in this unit of eight lessons. The Mexican Independance Day is compared to our own and the contributions of the Mayan, Azetec, and Spanish are...
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Railroads across the Country
Students see how to read and trace transcontinental routes on a nineteenth-century railroad map of the United States. They identify their home city or a nearby city on the core map and explain how railroads helped travelers back in the...
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Then and Now
Students explore population and come to understand how it changes over time. In this census lesson, students discover what population is and how it changes as they participate in age-appropriate activities.
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Transportation's affect on the Growth of Cities in the United States
Eighth graders identify the major advancements that have been made in transportation throughout U.S. history (waterways, horses, steam power, railroads, automobiles, etc.) They access websites imbedded in this plan and answer questions...
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Oregon City: A Convergence of Endings
Learners describe the activities that occurred in the Willamette Valley before the establishment of the Oregon Trail and agricultural settlement and explain the impact that American settlement had on the landscape and native groups who...
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Geography and Artifacts of Mexico
Students review the structure of government in Mexico and discuss how it is different than the United States. Using artifacts, they must label and identify the city or state in which the artifact originated. They use the artifact clues...
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Families and Neighborhoods
Students distinguish where their homes are in relation to the city of Pittsburgh. In this geography lesson, students read the book All Families Are Specialand find their city on a map of Pennsylvania. Students locate Pittsburgh...
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Tracking Armadillo's Journey
Students track a character's journey through different cities in Texas using the internet, a Promethean Board, and the educational program Keynote. This instructional activity is intended for upper elementary classrooms and includes a...
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Meteorologist for the Day
Fourth graders examine the symbols used on weather maps. They analyze a newspaper weather forecast and identify and discuss the various symbols used on the map. Next, they prepare a weather map for their own city using the symbols...
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Country Capitals
Students define the meaning of country capital. In this country capital instructional activity, students identify the symbol and find country capitals. Students locate and label capital cities on a map and insert the capital symbol.