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Map Skills

For Teachers 3rd
Thirds graders reinforce that a map is a drawing that shows what a place looks like from above. They use a map key and symbols to create a map of the school and its neighborhood.
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Introducing Maps Through Dance

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
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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Pirate Map

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students write directions explaining how to get from one location to another by using a map of their town and use simple maps to identify and locate places.
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Mapping the News

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore cartography.  In this map skills and map making lesson, Students work in groups to create wall size world maps including legends, compass roses, latitude and longitude, and physical features.  Students collect...
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People Change the Landscape

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine ways in which humans have brought change to the natural environment. In this ecology and literacy lesson, students listen to the book Island Boy by Barbara Cooney. Students observe and define map-reading vocabulary as...
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Drake's West Indian Voyage 1588-1589

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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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Do the Tallywalker

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study the basics of mapmaking, then make a tally walker, (geographic location device used in secret).
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Compass Rose: Dance and Quilt

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify the cardinal directions by listening to a song entitled, "Stand," and by reviewing the lyrics to that song. They notice the cardinal directions that are posted around the classroom. They perform the motions as...
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Regions of Utah - Mapping

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders draw a rudimentary map of the state of Utah, dividing it into the three regions: the Great Basin, the Colorado Plateau, and the Rocky Mountain Region.
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Capitals, Oceans, And Border States

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate geography by completing games with classmates. In this United States of America lesson, students examine a map of North America and identify the borders of Mexico and Canada as well as the Pacific and Atlantic....
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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.
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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...
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Geo-Town

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders use a checklist to construct a Geo-Town map including a compass rose, a map key, and a paragraph about a walk around Geo-Town, using appropriate geometric and directional vocabulary to identify the two-dimensional figures...
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How Do You Know Where You Are?

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders are introduced to geographic thinking, setting the stage for the creation of a map showing distance, direction, location and symbols from their residences to school.
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Book: First Encounters Between Spain and the Americas: Two Worlds Meet

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students, after reading Chapter 1 in the book, "First Encounters Between Spain and the Americas: Two Worlds Meet," design and create a map of the Aztec Empire at the time of the first contract with the Spanish. They create the map from...
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GPS Treasure Hunt

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore geography by participating in a treasure hunt activity. In this Global Positioning System lesson, students define the terms latitude and longitude while utilizing an electronic GPS device. Learners view a PowerPoint...
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Roller Coaster Mania

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders extend their knowledge of developing maps. They work in cooperative groups to develop an amusement park display and a brochure.
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Microsoft Publisher Country Brochure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore geographic information. In this geography and technology lesson, students choose a county and answer related questions on a Webquest. Students create a word web and design a country brochure.