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Exploring Explorers

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students research a selected explorer and teach their small group about their explorer during a jigsaw activity. Independently they write a letter as if they were on a voyage with their explorer, and create a world map that includes the...
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From Home To School

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students locate and use internet maps to trace a route from their home to school. They calculate the distance of the route using the map legend then determine the distance they travel to school and back in a regular school week and over...
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Old World and New World - Why Contact Took So Long

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students use a globe to determine why contact between the old world and the new world took a long time. In this map skills lesson, students analyze routes between regions to determine why it took so long for the old world and the new...
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A Bird's Eye View of our 50 States

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders focus on state birds as they learned absolute location (latitude/longitude) of each state, as well as their relative location (bordering states).
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Invaders and Settlers

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students watch a video that illustrates the way in which an English community evolved based on geography and the settlers and invaders who lived there over different time periods. They create a map that shows how different villages are...
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Mapmaking: Colorado Quarter Reverse

For Teachers K - 1st
Students examine the Colorado quarter reverse and draw symbols of the state's land and water features on maps. Using copies of the Colorado reverse, they color the coin design. They list reasons for the state's motto of "Colorful Colorado"
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Language Arts: A "Perfect" Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners read "Be A Perfect Person in Just three days," and participate in a host of activities. Connected to technology, they use online sources to create word searches and puzzles from vocabulary words. In addition, students create...
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Where in the World War? Mapping WWII in the Pacific

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the Pacific Theatre of War. In this World War II lesson, students use reference material to access information about significant locations in the Pacific Theatre of War. Students identify the locations of the listed...
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Cartography

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students follow directions to draw a map of an island. They complete the island map adding their own details using symbols and a legend.
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The 50 States

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use maps and music to learn the 50 states. In this US Geography lesson, 5th graders map out a region of the United States and practice singing the song, The 50 States that Rhyme.
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Ridgerunner

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students jog at the beginning of the class while learning about the Appalachian Trail. They integrate math into the lesson by adding up how many miles they have run, and comparing it to distances on a real trail map.
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States and Capitals of the United States

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students label states and capitals on a United States map and complete research on one of the states. In this states lesson plan, students fill in the states on blank maps.
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Roll With The Punches: Crossroads to Where?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders visualize and create a map to outline scenes from the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. They understands the importance of organizing information when making maps and giving directions.
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Continents and Oceans on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
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The Dynamic Earth

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use the Internet to investigate earthquakes and plate tectonics. In this plate tectonics lesson, students complete a web quest with multiple links and activity types relating to earthquakes and volcanoes. They connect the...
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Civil War

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the Civil War.  For this U.S. Civil War U.S. history lesson, students participate in a cubing activity in which a variety of Civil War projects are described on a paper cube.  Students roll the cube to...
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Priceless Gifts

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read about Italy and the complete activities that investigate the spice trade. In this spice trade lesson plan, 3rd graders analyze characters, write a thank you note, speak Italian, and complete language activities.
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Air Pressure and Wind

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study air pressure and learn how it can change the weather. In this air pressure lesson, 5th graders study the given diagrams and complete the experiments to learn how air pressure can change the weather. Students read...
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Using a Compass Rose

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders practice navigating around their neighborhood by utilizing a compass.  In this geography lesson, 2nd graders view a compass rose, discover the purpose of it, and utilize it to navigate through a printed map of their...
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Where in the World is Tacky the Penguin?

For Teachers 1st
First graders complete activities related to they story they are reading in class. Through art and measurement activities, 1st graders relate a story from the "Tacky the Penguin Series" to everyday objects and ideas they encounter.
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Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students read "Sneetches" by Dr. Seuss. They complete a story map and write about the topic of prejudice. They role-play star-bellied and plain-bellied sneetches and write a persuasive essay about their experiences.
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Rocks in our Backyard

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine igneous and sedimentary rocks. They observe and identify geological formations in their community, analyze igneous and sedimentary geological layers using a geological map, and use GPS to locate geological formations.
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Natural Resources and Transportation in the United States

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study thematic maps (included with the lesson) to determine possible relationships. They develop three hypotheses about the relationship. Students choose one of their hypotheses to explain. The explanation is to include reasons...
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Countries of the World

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students in a ESL classroom examine a world map and study the various countries' names. The study the cultures of selected countries and create a vocabulary list. Finally they label an empty map with the countries' names and a short...