Curated OER
Those Who Have Come Before Me
Class members are transformed into explorers as they work in groups to locate hidden items and map their journey along the way. They then leave clues for other groups of students to follow, and ultimately discover how past explorations...
DiscoverE
LIDAR: Mapping with Lasers
We would be lost without maps! How are they made? Introduce junior topographers to LIDAR technology with a fascinating activity. Set up a mock city, then have learners operate a laser measure to determine the shape of the landscape using...
Curated OER
Map It!
Fourth graders demonstrate map making skills by using the computer to create maps of the geographic features, regions, and economy for their state.
Curated OER
Designing a Hiking Trail
Put your students' map skills to the test with this engaging cross-curricular project. Given the task of developing new hiking trails for their local community, young cartographers must map out beginner and intermediate paths that meet a...
Simon & Schuster
Classroom Activities for The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Three activities are designed for readers of Jack London's The Call of the Wild. First, class members research and create posters that reflect the setting of the novel. Next, groups create posters with images that represent each chapter...
Curated OER
Let's Make a Map
Second graders draw maps of their playground, noting objects such as trees and play equipment. Working in groups, they make maps of different parts of the school and assemble them into a schoolwide map. They make maps on a field trip to...
Curated OER
A Place Called Nepal
Young scholars investigate maps of Nepal and then create their own to disover how human activity is influenced by terrain and climate. Students participate in a trek across Nepal simulation to imagine the challenges people have to face...
Curated OER
Mapmakers' Perspective
Students examine several maps and consider mapmakers' perspective in early depictions of North America.They determine how the spherical shape of the earth makes any north-south and east-west orientation a matter of perspective. For...
Curated OER
The Edge of the Lake
Second graders explore the geography of Nevada. In this map-making lesson plan, 2nd graders use salt dough to create a relief map of Nevada. Students label the landforms and bodies of water that are studied and specified in the lesson...
Curated OER
Tasty Mapping
Young scholars create an edible map. In this civics and geography lesson, students research their town's features and local government. Young scholars work in groups to design and create a physical map of their town based on research.
Curated OER
Geography: Map Making
Students, working in groups, share notes and maps collected during a study of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They draw large composite maps of the western United States on butcher paper including land formations, bodies of water, and...
Curated OER
Where Is Hoku?
Students are introduced to map making and reading. Using maps, they identify the cardinal directions and discuss the importance of a legend. They analyze the human characteristics of the classroom and create overhead view maps of the...
Curated OER
Back-to-school ESL Ideas
Young scholars share their countries and languages, flags, cultural identity, and pride in home culture.
Curated OER
Lesson 2: Mapping With Words
Young scholars demonstrate an understanding of the personal relationship that Wabanaki peoples had with the land by analyzing selected Wabanaki place names. They practice map-reading and map-making skills.
Curated OER
Minnesota Floor Map
Learners examine the physical geography of Minnesota, work cooperatively to design a map of Minnesota and develop spatial and relative location of Minnesota landmarks and physical characteristics.
Curated OER
Earthquake Analysis
Students analyze and plot the coordinates for several recent earthquakes on a world map. They learn not only about research and geology, but about map-making and data analysis. They think of other ways to analyze the data given.
Curated OER
Environment: Going Places
First graders learn directional words and apply this skill to map making. They record their steps on paper.
Curated OER
"Trails, Rails, and Roads" Lesson 2: Road Tripping
Learners practice map skills and take a virtual road trip through Maine examining the history of transportation. They create questions from the information they learned and play a game against other groups.
Curated OER
Mapping the Past
Young scholars study historical maps to view how the world evolved from medieval times through the Renaissance. They work in groups to examine the maps and present a report on one of the listed maps.
Curated OER
National Expansion
Young scholars investigate the Manifest Denstiny. They explore how the idea was evident in 19th century American maps. Students brainstorm the relationships between maps and national expansion. They review a map from 1816 that called for...
Curated OER
Navigation
Students explain that globes are the best way to show positions of places, but flat maps are portable and can show great detail. They make a mercator projection of the route Lewis and Clark took on their journey.
Curated OER
Renaissance Trade and Exchange
Sixth graders map out trade routes. In this Renaissance time period lesson plan, 6th graders complete a Christopher Columbus Map Activity, discuss and identify the parts of a map, and locate Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Students...
Curated OER
Where in the World Am I?
Students participate in mapping activities to explore an area from different spatial perspectives. In this mapping lesson, students define the terms needed to understand a map. Students use representations such as a balloon and a...
Curated OER
A History of the War of 1812 and The Star-Spangled Banner
Learners examine the causes and outcomes of the War of 1812, and determine the chronology of the Star-Spangled Banner. In this War of 1812 lesson, students learn vocabulary and read a narrative about the War of 1812 before participating...