First graders plan a trip for Christopher Columbus. They use their math skills to construct a ship for Columbus' voyage. They show their ship and calculations to their classmates and build graphs to show the amount of supplies needed to...

First graders read The Scrambled States of America and discuss whether it is real or fantasy as compared to the United States. In this geography lesson, 1st graders identify their city or state on a map and work in groups to color the...

Students research and write about Christopher Columbus, his voyages, and his impact on the Native Americans. In this Christopher Columbus lesson, students work at stations where they learn vocabulary, perform Reader's Theatre, work with...

Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time.  In this Thanksgiving instructional activity, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the...

This quiz on the culture and geography of Uruguay may serve best as a sponge activity for those who have finished an assignment. Questions are multiple-choice, and each correct answer is worth 15 points. Quiz-takers must earn 1000 points...

Eleventh graders explore the reasons for migration to California during the Gold Rush.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders read letters about the opportunities and obstacles people faced.  Students create a map of...

Fourth graders read excerpts and research the Internet to learn about the expeditions of Lewis and Clark and their impact on the United States. Students fill out a KWL chart as they learn.

Learners work together and investigate the shapes of 50 states. They identify the states that they find hardest to recognize. The group then list the states in order from most difficult to just difficult to recognize and create a...

Young scholars research an explorer and present a multimedia presentation on the explorer. In this United States explorers lesson, students watch a video about Lewis and Clark. Young scholars use Google Earth to study their journey and...

Students examine what were preconceived perceptions of the areas Lewis and Clark explored. They compare and contrast past and modern maps of North America. They accurately place route and site information on the map.

Tenth graders discuss what their prior knowledge of the exploration of the Americas/Caribbean and the history of the island of Haiti. They trace Columbus' journey from Spain to Hispaniola and locate Haiti in the Caribbean and read the...

Students examine the links between culture and geography. In this Native American cultures lesson plan, students research the cultural traditions of selected Native American groups. Students compare and contrast their findings.

Learners pretend they are visiting a relative in the Chuuk nation of Micronesia. Using their knowledge of the 4th of July, they compare and contrast the holiday to the Chuuk's independence day. They create travelogues that outline...

Students answer short answer questions and participate in a role play where they are explorers being interviewed. In this early explorers lesson plan, students discuss why it is beneficial to be the first one in a place.

Seventh graders research European Explorers lives. They create a Word Document, or slide show based on their research.

Learners identify and explain how geography is connected to other academic areas and historical events.

In this The Galapagos Islands worksheet, students read a 1 page article, answer 3 statements with multiple choice answers, fill in 4 fill in the blank answers and 3 determine if 3 statements are true or false.

For this Lewis and Clark scavenger hunt worksheet, students participate in an Internet scavenger hunt to answer five questions regarding the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Middle schoolers study the fossils in Argentina and why it is a good place to find them.  In this dinosaurs lesson plan students learn about the recent dinosaur excavations. 

Students locate present-day towns along the Lewis and Clark Trail and compare them to towns in 1800, 1900, and 2,000. Working in groups, they conduct Intenet research to locate the wons along the trail and research their history and...

Students study the United States geography using Google Earth. In this U.S. geography instructional activity, students create travel journals about five U.S. geographical locations. Students research the human and physical...

This American Memory site documents the discovery and exploration of the Americas with both manuscripts and published maps, many of which date from the European Age of Discovery. The site includes 22 map titles and descriptions, as well...

Help your ESL students understand the role of Columbus in the history of America. Take the opportunity to teach map skill. This lesson plans include the TESOL standards and many downloads.