Curated OER
Cultural Maps
Fifth graders examine map elements. In small groups they create a map of an imaginary country that includes a title, legend, directional indicator, scale, boundaries, capital cities, country name, and icons of five natural resources. ...
University of Pennsylvania
Mock Trial of Alfred Dreyfus
What if scholars based mock trials on history? The fourth installment of a five-part series on the Dreyfus Affair asks learners to read various pieces of evidence before conducting a mock trial for a French officer. Teams answer...
Geophysical Institute
Latitude and Longitude with Google Earth
Travel the world from the comfort of your classroom with a lesson that features Google Earth. High schoolers follow a series of steps to locate places all over the earth with sets of coordinates. Additionally, they measure the distance...
Curriculum Corner
Australian Christmas
Where is Australia? How is an Australian Christmas from other Christmases around the world? Learners participate in a mini-research project where they discover what an Australian Christmas is like.
National Geographic
Australia, Antarctica, and Oceana
Go on a traveling adventure throughout Australia, Oceana, and Antarctica! This textbook excerpt offers a full unit of study that can easily be supplemented by extra projects or research materials. Learners study maps, read about native...
University of Pennsylvania
Decoding Propaganda: J’Accuse…! vs. J’Accuse…!
Reading snail mail is a great way to go back into history and to understand others' points of view. The resource, the second in a five-part unit, covers the Dreyfus Affair. Scholars, working in two different groups, read one letter and...
Curated OER
Malta: The Landscape
Students work in small groups to create a topographic map of Malta. They must include labeled line drawings of bordering countries and bodies of water. Students use salt and flour clay to make Malta three dimensional, showing the nearest...
Curated OER
Welina's World
Young scholars living in Hawaii draw a picture of themselves in their neighborhood. They draw their neighborhood in relation to their district and then in relation to the island they are from. They compare their pictures to their...
Curated OER
Flat Earth Society
Students explore map distortion. In this geography lesson, students compare Mercator projection maps to globes in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of projection maps.
Curated OER
Fractile vs. Equal
Students compare and contrast methods of categorizing data. In this data collection lesson, students complete worksheet activities that require them to note the differences between equal and fractile intervals. Students also discuss...
Environmental Education in Wisconsin
Biome Travel Guide
In a perfect marriage of social studies and science, groups work together to research and create a travel guide presentation to share with the class. Not only do kids learn about the climate and geography of a biome, but also the...
Curated OER
Little House on the Prairie
Hop into a covered wagon and follow Laura Ingalls Wilder through the Midwest. A series of lessons based on Little House on the Prairie encourages young pioneers to see the world through Laura's eyes as they map her journey, discuss the...
K20 LEARN
Manifest Destiny: U.S. Territorial Expansion
A close examination of John Gast's painting "American Progress" launches a study of the concept of Manifest Destiny used to justify United States' policy of westward expansion. Young historians read statements from persons with different...
Curated OER
Everyone Eats Bread
Students identify similarties and differences between different countries and what type of bread they eat. They examine the different cultures of countries by emailing people in other countries. They also locate the country on the map.
Curated OER
Mapping the War
Learners work in pairs to draw their own maps as specified of World War II areas. When all projects have been completed let one group at a time share their assignments with the rest of the class. Compile all the maps into a classroom...
Curated OER
Europe Before and after WWI
Eighth graders compare and contrast maps of Europe before and after World War I. In this World War I lesson, 8th graders color and label maps of Europe prior to the war and after it. The historical maps can be accessed online.
Curated OER
Establishment of Plainfield
Eighth graders analyze documents and maps of Plainfield, CT from different time periods, then, working in a small group, create a map for a giventime. In this Plainfield lesson, 8th graders read primary and secondary sources from local...
Curated OER
Are We There Yet?
Students discover how to use maps and why they are important when using a map. They calculate distance using a map scale and time using travel speed and a map scale.
Curated OER
Eastern Europe: Passport to Understanding
Seventh graders explore Eastern Europe. They analyze data on select countries. Students prepare a short oral presentation on the country they researched. They locate their country using an interactive map.
Curated OER
Map Making
First graders explore maps to realize the concept that maps are simply small representations of a much bigger picture. They discuss the importance of maps in everyday life, examine a map of the school, and then make a map of their...
Curated OER
Defining a Cultural Region Worksheet
In this cultural regions activity, students click on the webpage names listed to find information about the different cultures and cultural regions in Louisiana that may be used for research purposes.
Curated OER
Race and Genetics: An Integrated Approach
Students analyze racial issues related to the Human Genome Project. They participate in a mock symposium and write a reflection/position paper based on specific ethical principals.
Curated OER
Making Sense Of A Round World On A Flat Surface
Students engage in a lesson plan that is concerned with the development of geography skills. They take part in a number of activities that center around finding and traveling to different locations. The lesson plan has resource links...
Curated OER
FINDING A RESOLUTION
Students examine detailed Moon and Earth views provided by the NASA-sponsored "World Wind" computer program. They work in groups to create maps of different scales using landmarks of their choice, and challenge their classmates to...