Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scaling it Down: Caves Have Maps, Too

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Measurement and map skills are the focus of this lesson, where students crawl through a "cave" made out of boxes, desks and chairs, observing the dimensions.  Your young geographers measure various aspects of the cave and practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Hudson in 1609

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
While this lesson focuses on a study of the Hudson River, it could be used as a template for a discussion of map skills, converting measurements, and plotting a route. The lesson includes vocabulary and other resources to make it a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underwater Mountains & Trenches

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students determine Earth's deepest trench, outline continents, major ocean mountains, and trenches on color-key map using Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, identify oceans' geographic features, locate significant oceanic features around...
Lesson Plan
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Just Health Action

Environmental Justice Matters: Mapping Cumulative Impacts (Part 2)

For Teachers 6th - 12th
A case study enables class members to confirm whether different geographic parts of Seattle, Washington have disproportionate environmental burdens and benefits. Groups use the EPA's Cumulative Health Impact Analysis formula and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

River Run Through It

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
With vocabulary lists, worksheets, and more, this lesson sets learners on an exploration of the Hudson River area. They read an essay about the area, analyze a relief map of New York State, and complete a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Where Animals Live

For Teachers Pre-K - 5th
What type of reptiles live in New York State? This lesson gets the class thinking about what factors determine where particular animals live. They analyze the Hudson Valley environment, identify specific reptile and amphibian...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Play Doh Map of Your State

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students create a state map using Playdoh. In this hands-on state geography instructional activity, students work in groups to form a three-dimensional  map of their state using Playdoh made at home following a (given) recipe....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality and Watersheds: A GIS Investigation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Requiring more than one class period, this resource takes earth science learners on a journey through a watershed. Using ArcGIS Explorer, an online geographic information system, they view maps of watersheds and surrounding landscapes....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Electricity

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students complete Internet research and use their map reading skills to learn about how the United States creates and uses electricity in different states. In this energy sources activity, students study the mini map of energy usage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyzing Hurricanes Using Web and Desktop GIS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars analyze hurricanes. In hurricanes lesson, students use the Internet and GIS to analyze hurricanes. Young scholars view the National Atlas of Maps to discuss the direction hurricanes move. Students study the wind and...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Where in the Latitude Are You? A Longitude Here.

For Teachers 5th
Students distinguish between latitude and longitude on the map. In this mapping lesson, students participate in mapping skills to recognize spatial relationships, and where to find natural resources on the map. Students create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Permafrost Gas Leak

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pair earth scientists up to use an amazing online arctic portal mapping tool and Google Earth to analyze permafrost changes. They compare changes to data on atmospheric concentrations of methane to see if there is a correlation. Then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: Habitat Mapping

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine the current technologies used in mapping resources in the marine environment. They look at remote sensing, sounding, and underwater vehicles. They examine image from the benthic habitat produced by the GIS in order...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Maker, Map Maker

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Map maker, map maker, make me a map! Your class can sing this tune as they work to create their own regional maps by taping paper to the wall, projecting an overhead transparency image, and tracing. Where this lesson plan intends for the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Exploring Earth Through Maps and Technology

For Students 5th - 6th
In this maps worksheet, students read 3 pages of detailed information about maps, latitude, longitude, topography, satellites and global positioning. Students then answer 10 questions. There is also a research project assignment available.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Projections

For Teachers K - 12th
Learners view examples of various map projections using a website. Students record differences between the map projections. Learners discuss uses for the various map projections and the differences between the maps they viewed. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A world of oil

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners practice in analyzing spatial data in maps and graphic presentations while studying the distribution of fossil fuel resources. They study, analyze, and map the distribution of fossil fuels on blank maps. Students discuss gas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Nearby

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore water located near where they live. In this map skills maritime lesson, students use Google Maps to find their school and the body of water closest to them. Students research the body of water and answer questions about it.
Lesson Plan
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Relief Maps

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study geographical maps and their functions.  In this geography lesson students work in groups to build a map to scale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map your Schoolyard

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils practice their mapping skills by creating an accurate map of their schoolyard using an aerial photo from the National Map web site. Students include legends, a scale, and a north arrow on their maps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storm Clouds-- Fly over a Late Winter Storm onboard a NASA Earth Observing Satellite

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study cloud data and weather maps to explore cloud activity.  In this cloud data lesson plan students locate latitude and longitude coordinates and determine cloud cover percentages. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working With Electronic Topography Maps

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Junior geologists examine topographic maps online and learn how to read them. they answer seven associated follow-up questions. This lesson plan is only a general outline and does not provide the details or the websites that you...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Plate Boundaries

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students discover plate boundaries based on the uneven geographic occurrence of geologic hazards. After discussing geologic hazards, students plot different sets of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on maps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...