Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Hawaiian Mountain Zones

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders watch a video that describes the climate and vegetation zones of Hawaii. They describe the different physical conditions that create vegetation zones from the sea to the mountains. In groups, they create an illustrated...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Crash Scene

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore geography by participating in a mapping activity. In this engineering instructional activity, 5th graders identify the differences between latitude and longitude and practice locating precise points on a globe or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Around the Town

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
In the world of GPS, make sure your kids can still read maps and determine distances between locations. You will need neighborhood street maps, ideally of your class' home turf. Ask kids questions about different locations in relation to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My World

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students study maps. In this social studies lesson, students draw a map of either their room at home or the route they take to school. Students label items on their maps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Boundaries and People

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students map watersheds to find their boundaries.  In this watershed activity students map and then give their "watershed address."  Students show the trail from stream, larger stream to oceans.  Students describe the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rivers Run Through It

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Using a relief map of New York State, learners answer questions about the distance between different cities, identify bodies of water, and more. First, they discuss vocabulary related to the Hudson River area. Then, they complete a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What in Our World Affects the Way People Live

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study various maps that show geographical features and population. They compare the maps and make inferences about how various geographical features influence the population and human activities of an area.
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

Names and Places

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore where jobs are done. In this careers and geography lesson, students locate places in Canada on a map and list jobs that are done in their area of Canada. Lesson includes extension and differentiation ideas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Are Here

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students map local places and learn to use scale and distance.  In this mapping lesson plan, students map their school and a favorite place.  Students recreate their maps showing distance and scale sizes. Students locate their...
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

A Collapsing City Skyline

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Have your high schoolers learn about the modern history of Myanmar by close-reading an article about the city and people of the city Yangon. As they'll learn, the country is going through some dramatic transitions. After...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring History Through Photographs

For Teachers 5th
A fascinating series of four lessons on how photography and society have evolved over time. These lessons bring in elements of art, math, social studies, and geography. Everyone gets to make maps, look at old photos, and take part in a...
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Ring of Fire

For Teachers 6th Standards
Over a period of 35 years, earthquakes and volcanoes combined only accounted for 1.5 percent of the deaths from natural disasters in the United States. The 15th lesson in a 20-part series connects the locations of earthquakes and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Our Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore how communities participate in census counting. In this census lesson, students recognize the absolute and relative location of a state and understand ideas about civic life and government.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Maps

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate a variety of maps to explain what each one is used for.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the Lewis and Clark Trail

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore how physical and human geography features effected Lewis and Clark's expedition by using the Lewis and Clark Digital Discovery Web site.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography and Culture

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore African geography, study the overall continent of Africa and its individual countries, discuss demographics, and participate in research and class activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography of China (Tibet)

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the geography of Tibet. They create maps of Tibet. Students predict population, land area, water area and coastline length of the United States and Tibet. Students compare and contrast the day-to-day lives of people...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cartographer on Assignment: Creating a Physical Map of Africa

For Teachers 2nd - 12th
Students use geographic information to make an outline map of Africa, then demonstrate their understanding of the physical landscape of Africa by using a variety of materials to create a physical map of Africa
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Things That Stick Out Or: How To Find Your Way Around on a Map

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explain the meaning of and recognize the map outlines of a peninsula, an isthmus, and a cape.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regents High School Examination: Global History and Geography, 2009

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Get your geographers thinking with this global history and geography standardized practice test. Class members respond to 50 multiple choice questions, 2 essay prompts, and 15 short answer questions that require them to review their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. Geography: The Northeast

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate U.S. Geography by creating a map in class. In this natural resource lesson, students create a map of the United States and research the Northeast based on their resources and recyclable materials.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Your Way Around

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify a map, symbols on a map, and locate places on a map. Finally, they construct a map
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making the Invisible Visible

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students evaluate the various ways in which cyberspace is beginning to be mapped by geographers, cartographers, artists, and scientists and use their understanding of the information these new maps can convey to create their own maps of...