Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping a Temperature Field

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students measure and graph temperatures. In this temperature field lesson students use a map to measure and plot field values and construct isolines and interpret the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maps: Latitude and Longitude

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students visit interactive sites focusing on latitude and longitude. They participate in activities about the prime meridian, time zones, and equator. They view the coordinates of states and cities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning Words

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students listen to Jane Yolen's, All Those Secrets of the World. They engage in activities to find word meanings without using a dictionary. They practice using a vocabulary mapping handout.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About the Equator, The Seven Continents and the Four Oceans

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students use a globe or map to locate the equator, oceans and continents. Using the internet, they spend time surfing through predetermined websites on continents and oceans. They write facts on different parts of the globe on index...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Potato Island

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Learners create their own topographical map using a potato. In this hands on instructional activity students construct a topographical map and explain what contour lines are using a potato.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Global Grapefruit - Representing a 3-Dimensional Globe on a 2-Dimensional Map

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students compare and contrast world maps and globes. They convert a 3-dimensional globe to a 2-dimensional map. They are introduced to the Mercator map projection. They observe map distortions of shape, area, distance, directions and angle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping and Excavating a Jello Mold

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, map the three layers of different colored jello layers in molds and note the placement of fruit in them. On the grid paper they draw each grape, raisin, or other object and carefully remove each layer. After...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetometer Extension Activities

For Teachers K - 12th
Students observe magnetic fields and locate the position of "ore deposits" patterns using models and maps.  In this magnetometer lesson students complete a hands on activity and a reading/writing exercise. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Mapping

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students draw arrows to show the direction the compass needle is pointing when it is placed around different points of a penny and a bar magnet. Students must then answer questions about the activity on a provided worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Focused Learning Lesson: World Geography

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers compare human activities and the physical characteristics of the land and how they have given some regions labels. They also analyze the cultural changes occuring in these regions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Long Learning

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders complete a research activity to learn about post-secondary education and possible career paths. In this college and career search lesson, 12th graders locate colleges of interest on a map and explore information in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Minnesota-China Connections: Mental Maps

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine the concept of mental mapping. They draw a map of their school, before and after touring the space they draw. Then they draw mental maps of China and Minnesota, before and after seeing actual maps of the areas.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Class Is On the Map

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders review map keys, symbols, and the purpose of maps, then students design a poster size map of their classroom.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Map Skills

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study maps. In this U.S. geography lesson, 3rd graders explore directions on a compass rose and use a map scale to determine distances between two points on a map. They listen to a lecture and use their own maps to practice...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using My Nasa Data To Determine Volcanic Activity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars use NASA satellite data of optical depth as a tool to determine volcanic activity on Reunion Island during 2000-2001. They access the data and utilize Excel to create a graph that has optical depth as a function of time...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Thematic Map Using S'COOL Data

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students observe weather patterns, collect data, and make a weather predictions for various locations on a map.
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Constructing and Visualizing Topographic Profiles

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Militaries throughout history have used topography information to plan strategies, yet many pupils today don't understand it. Scholars use Legos and a contour gauge to understand how to construct and visualize topographic profiles. This...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Where on Earth Am I?

For Students 9th - 11th Standards
Almost every phone has GPS installed, but a large number of teens don't know how the technology works. An initial activity illustrates how GPS determines a location on Earth. Scholars then apply trilateration procedures to a...
Lesson Plan
Prairie Public Broadcasting

Egyptian Pyramids Virtual Field Trip!

For Teachers 6th Standards
A virtual field trip takes enthusiastic travelers to the pyramids of Giza. Using Google, scholars explore the grounds of the ancient pyramids found in Egypt then complete three worksheets: a photo analysis page, a reflection sheet, and a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Your Garden Grow? Discovering How Weather Patterns Affect Natural Cycles

For Teachers 7th - 12th
For the warm-up in this cool climate lesson, you will need to click on "Mapping" and then "US Mapping" once you arrive at NOAA's "US Climate at a Glance" page. Earth science explorers realize that 2012 was a warm winter for us. They read...
Lesson Plan
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National Geographic

Types of Volcanic Eruptions

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Blow the roof off your classroom with this multimedia science lesson on volcanic eruptions. A short online video teaches young geologists about shield and composite volcanoes and explores the examples of Kilauea and Mt. Vesuvius,...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

How Light Pollution Affects the Stars: Magnitude Readers

For Students 5th - 12th Standards
Did you know light can decrease visibility? Light pollution absolutely makes it more difficult to see stars. Scholars build a simple magnitude reader to determine the magnitude of stars. They use these data to estimate the impact of...
Lesson Plan
Mathematics Assessment Project

Representing Quadratic Functions Graphically

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Sometimes being different is an advantage. An engaging activity has scholars match cards with quadratic functions in various forms. Along the way, they learn about how each form highlights key features of quadratic functions.