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North, South, East, and West
A basic lesson on the teaching of the cardinal directions awaits your class. They are directed to go to different parts of the playground and where they attempt to describe their location in relation to each other by using the cardinal...
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School Sleuths Treasure Map
Students are explained how a grid and compass work. They are also explained that archaeologists use grids as a record of the exact location of artifacts. Students define the term datum as a point of reference on grids from which all...
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Combining Map and Compass
Middle schoolers practice using the map and compass to find a location. In this geography lesson series, students identify basic requirements needed when traveling in the wilderness. They plan a healthy menu for a backpacking trip.
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George Washington Teaches Map Directions
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.
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Cardinal Directions
Students explore cardinal directions. In this social studies instructional activity, students create maps of home and school using the cardinal directions.
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Put Me in My Place: Using Alphanumeric Grids to Locate Places
Students practice locating points on a large wall grid and create and label a neighborhood map. In this geography lesson, students spell and discuss places as the teacher places them on the map. They discuss the concept of an...
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Ticky Goes to Jr. Map School
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...
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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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Roots of the Mariana Arc
Plumb the depths of the Submarine Ring of Fire and explore seismic waves with this lesson. Junior geologists simulate s-waves and p-waves, calculate their speeds, and then apply the data to discover the material that makes up inner...
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The Treasure Map
Third graders problem solve using drawings and map interpretations. They preview graphs and Cartesian geometry. They follow directions on a map using a grid and compass references while simulating they are reading a pirate map.
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Map It Out
Third graders create obstacle course maps. They lay out their course on the playground, using symbols for trees, fences, etc, Students, in groups, exchange maps and then follow the courses.
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Cartography Project
A lesson involving mapping, the use of a compass, writing and following directions, and exploring the first two themes of geography is here for you. Learners create original maps that show the routes they take through their own...
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Introducing Maps Through Dance
Students are introduced to the key concepts of maps; direction, pathway/line, shape and symbol. They create the pathways and shapes they have "mapped" out on paper on the floor. They dance along the paths.
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Environment: Going Places
First graders learn directional words and apply this skill to map making. They record their steps on paper.
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Angle Benchmarks
Sixth graders discuss the characteristics of specific angles and then use the information to to identify and estimate given angles. The class goes outside, identifies north, and turns a specified amount of degrees. Using a given compass,...
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Mariner's Compass Quilts: New Directions
Students follow the steps of creating Mariner's Compass blocks using two different methods, freezer paper templates and paper foundations. Then they draft their own original full size block on freezer paper.
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Gridding a 2 x 2 Meter Unit
Students use the internet to examine what happens at an archeological dig site. In groups, they practice measuring a 2x2 meter square unit and gridding it out as an archeologist would do. They review the possible solutions at the end of...
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Robots
Second graders examine the concepts of direction and movement as they attempt to program a robot to move. They design a set of instructions using right, left, forward, backwards, and quarter turn so that the robot can accomplish tasks.
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Lagoon Lake
Students develop skill in using co-ordinates. Up to eight cardinal points of the compass are used making this a useful activity in simple map and grid work. They utilize educational software to gain practice.
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2 x 2
Students work together to grid a 2 x 2 meter unit using the formula for the Pythagorean Theorem. After creating the grid, they identify the location of artifacts and create a map of their location. They develop a graph and table of their...
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Mapping the Local Community
Students review the symbols and legends of a map. In groups, they follow a set of directions to create a map showing the route to a specific place. They present their map to the class and review the basic components of a community.
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Where Am I: How to Read a Map
Third graders develop an understanding of maps. They explore what a map is, who uses maps, and how to use maps. Students investigate the compas rose. They create a compose rose which illustrates the cardinal directions. Students practice...
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Red October
Fourth graders follow directions given in bearings. They invent their own maps using them and use a protractor to help them with their designs. Students
produce their own maps with instructions for navigating the maps. The channels...
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X Marks the Spot
Fourth graders use games and puzzles to explore co-ordinate systems and their uses. Students are given the opportunity to invent their own systems by locating counters on a sheet of paper and by finding the dead center of a set of objects.