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Isoseismal Maps
Young scholars examine the difference between magnitude and intensity in earthquakes. They complete map work and write a first hand account of a person living in each level of intensity on the Modified Mercalli Scale.
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School Neighborhood Walking Tour
Students list specific boundaries in their school neighborhood and explain their possible purpose. They examine a neighborhood and see what connects us and what divides us. They, in groups, make maps of various neighborhoods and present...
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Map Maker Map Maker
Students create their own maps. In this map making lesson, students go to Microsoft Word and create a chart. They label directions, buildings, streets, and distance.
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Understanding Topographic Maps
Underclassmen create a cone-shaped landform and then draw a contour map for it. Then they examine a quadrangle (which was easily located with an online search), and relate it to what they experienced. The accompanying worksheet is...
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Teen America Travels New England
Students simulate the role of a travel agent to understand how to read and use road maps. They plan a bus trip through New England for a group of travelers that includes, bus travel, meals and attractions. They plan the distance that...
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China Quest
Read and research information on China. Young researchers complete a knowledge hunt about China then locate and describe each location using directional words. They recognize the word meaning through context clues and application practice.
Chicago Botanic Garden
Historical Climate Cycles
What better way to make predictions about future weather and climate patterns than with actual climate data from the past? Young climatologists analyze data from 400,000 to 10,000 years ago to determine if climate has changed over...
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Topographic Map Unit Plan
Learners examine topographic maps and discover how to decipher contour intervals, use contour lines and apply information to complete a topographic map lab. Working in groups, they identify the scale of the map, latitude and longitude,...
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Painting the Hallway with Pixels
Students create science design to be painted on the wall in the hallway of the science area of the school building. They measure space available, make a scale model of the design, and paint different pixels.
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Relief Maps
Students study geographical maps and their functions. In this geography lesson students work in groups to build a map to scale.
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Map your Schoolyard
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.
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Reading distance on maps
Eighth graders complete worksheets on reading the distance on maps in miles or kilometers. For this maps lesson plan, 8th graders use a calculator and ruler.
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3-D Model of Lake Benthos
Learners create 3-D models of Lake Benthos. In this scale drawing lesson, students create a 3-D model of Lake Benthos. Learners work in groups to create the models. Students use the models to to encourage people to conserve natural...
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Johnny Appleseed Walkabout
Second graders calculate mileage for a journey. In this place value and measurement lesson, 2nd graders read Johnny Appleseed, work in groups to locate his birthplace on a map, locate the other states he stopped in, and measure the...
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Understanding: Geography
Students explore their neighborhoods. In this geography instructional activity, students make a map of their neighborhood. They must include a key, natural terrain, buildings and streets. They also write a descriptive paragraph about...
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Understanding Geography
Students create a map of their own neighborhood to show the relationships between the geography of the neighborhood and its economy and culture. They view and discuss an introductory video on how geographers study an area then go out...
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Drake's West Indian Voyage 1588-1589
Students investigate several maps detailing Sir Francis Drake's voyages. For this geography lesson, students practice reading maps and locating the precise locations of where Sir Francis Drake visited. Students create an...
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Maps, Charts, and Graphs
Students define key geographic terms and track a hurricane on a map. They examine various types of maps and find locations on them,including rivers, cities and mountains.
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Scale
Students apply concepts of scales to solve problems. In this geometry lesson plan, students solve real world problems using scales, proportions and ratios. They predict the actual size of a model given the scale drawings.
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Me on the Map Lesson 2
Students analyze and interpret maps, globes and geographic information systems to define and identify cities, counties, states, countries and continents to create a booklet called me on the map. They also determine and calculate the...
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Mapping India
Students participate in an activity in which they place placards listing geographic features, landmarks, etc. in the correct place on a large fabric map of a given country. They also examine artifacts, photos, sounds/music, etc. from...
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Map It!
Fourth graders collect and explore different maps and their uses before using the program Pixie to create maps of geographic features, political features, and economic information for the state in which they live.
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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. ...
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Exploring Scale
Sixth graders discuss how the scale and type of graph can change how the data appears. With a partner, they identify all the information about the graph in a specific amount of time and record them in a journal. To end the lesson plan,...