Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MAP GRIDS, CLIMATES AND HEMISPHERES

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students compare/contrast the grid and latitude/longitude system used on a globe. They describe the areas which are considered to be a tropical, temperate, and polar, based on knowledge of climates.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

George Washington Teaches Map Directions

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners follow teacher given directions, either oral or written to plot points on a grid to create a profile of George Washington. They apply cardinal and ordinal directions to find the points on the grid.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Organization of a Territory, Map Elements

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders compare printed and online maps and use proper geographic terminology to answer questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Where Am I? Map Activity

For Students 5th - 7th
In this map activity worksheet, students determine which countries are shown on a set of 16 maps, then read facts about each country designed to help with a report on that country.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ticky Goes to Jr. Map School

For Teachers 1st
First graders sing "We All Live Together," by Greg and Steve. They look at a map and sing the "Soggy Waffle Song" to study about the compass rose. Students write N, E, S, W on the borders of paper that goes under a 100's chart. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Goldilocks and the Coordinate Grids

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Where this lesson idea is lacking in materials, it makes up for with creativity! Using "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" as the background, mathematicians plot points on a coordinate grid to create props for the story. The polygons all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping a Site Using a Coordinate Plane

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners map their playground as if it were an archeological site. They locate objects on the playground and determine their location using coordinate points. A related lesson is Coordinate Grid: Mapping an Archeological Site.
Assessment
Illustrative Mathematics

Latitude

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The greater the latitude, the less of the Earth is north. Scholars graph the relationship between the latitude and the percentage of the Earth that is north of the latitude. Using the graph and the table, class members interpret values...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Absolute Location

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the geographic concept of absolute location. Using a variety of resources, they create a life-size classroom grid and locate the coordinates of a point, identify latitude and longitude of different locations, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where in the World

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the global grid system. In this globe lesson, students identify latitude and longitude lines and how these can tell the coordinates of any place. They use the Internet to find the exact coordinates for their town. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gridding a Site

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students establish a grid system over an archaelogical site. They label each grid unit. They determine the location of artifacts within each grid unit. They construct a scientific inquiry concerning the location of artifacts on the site.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sustainable Southern Belize: Coral Health Lesson Plan

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate coral reefs and the dangers they face by labeling and drawing.  In this oceanography lesson, 5th graders view a PowerPoint presentation of photographs of coral reefs in Belize.  Students investigate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Location, Location, Location: Using a Grid to Determine Context

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders are introduced to making inferences about artifacts. Using a grid system, they locate the artifacts and determine where they originated from. They use this information to make conclusions about the way people lived...
Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Ordered Pairs

For Students 6th Standards
Scholars learn to plot points on the coordinate plane. The activity introduces the idea that the first coordinate of a coordinate pair represents the horizontal distance and the second coordinate represents the vertical distance. 
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Renewables Workshop

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Youngsters examine resource maps to find out which states are using solar and wind power and discuss as a class various other renewable energy sources. They use a provided data table to record pros and cons to each technology, build and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Draw an Inch, Walk a Mile

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students work in small groups to solve the problems presented. The main project, mapping the classroom, use these discussions to collaborate in creating a tangible demonstration of their understanding.
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did you know scientists can tell the age of an asteroid by looking closely at its craters? This final instructional activity of a six-part series focuses on two asteroids, Gaspra and Ida, in order to demonstrate the concept of dating...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coordinate Grid: Mapping an Archaeological Site

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine how archaeologists preserve context of sites through use of rectangular grid or Cartesian coordinate system, and develop sense of distance by pacing off and estimating distances.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading Contour Maps

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine contour maps and bathymetry maps and discover how to interpret a contour map of the East Pacific Rise. Students look at a map as a class and answer questions together before working independently on a map of the East...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latitude and Longitude

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate how to locate places on a map using a grid. In this map skills lesson, students are introduced to latitude and longitude lines. Students define these terms and view a large map of a state. Students come up to the map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Yarning" About Latitude and Longitude

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners identify various locations using latitude and longitude. In this map skills lesson, students use yarn and labels to create a "human globe." Learners identify the Prime Meridian, the Equator, and Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

4-figure Grid Reference

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study maps and grid lines.  In this weather map lesson students complete an activity that allows them to understand grid lines on a map. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What do Maps Show?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders practice the skill of reading maps.  In this geography lesson, 8th graders participate in a classroom lecture on how to read a map. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping and Excavating a Jello Mold

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students simulate how archaeologists excavate sites by "searching" their own site in the form of a Jello mold. They use a grid to map the objects in the Jello mold as well as looking at three layers of Jello to understand stratigraphy...