Sixth graders are introduced to the concepts of a compass rose and how it used in relationship to reading maps in geography. The lesson is meant to build upon prior knowledge and skills.

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...

Students map local places and learn to use scale and distance.  In this mapping instructional activity, students map their school and a favorite place.  Students recreate their maps showing distance and scale sizes. Students...

Junior geographers explore the region through which the Mekong flows, its pathway, the landscape, how people depend on the Mekong, and future uncertainties. They apply the five themes of geography to examine the region. They create a...

Exactly how far away is the Arctic? Learners use maps to orient themselves to their locations on the globe. They then make calculations to describe how their location relates to the location of the Arctic regions.

Introduce your class to map projections and coordinates, the basics for the work done in a GIS, with an activity that uses Google Earth to challenge learners to think about the earth's shape. 

Pupils explore and examine how maps have been used in navigation. They research how travelers collected observations to keep track of their positions and plotted information on maps. Each student then makes a Mercator projection similar...

First graders identify a map, symbols on a map, and locate places on a map. Finally, they construct a map

Students explain the meaning of and recognize the map outlines of a peninsula, an isthmus, and a cape.

First graders discuss what part of the world their ancestors came from. They locate the locations on a map and discuss the differences and similarities of each continent and their people. They become familiar with the traditional...

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...

Students identify the differences between maps and globes. In this map skills instructional activity, students are shown a globe and a map and recognize the differences. Students use post-it notes to locate several locations on the world...

Students create a map showing the United States borders at a specific period in history and produce three questions to be answered by examining the map. They also write a productive paragraph explaining who, what, when, where, how/why a...

First graders examine the differences between a map and a globe. They discuss and identify the symbols on maps and globes, then in small groups complete a worksheet. Students then complete a Venn Diagram comparing maps and globes.

Learners round out their math skills with these ‘round the world' ideas. In this math and geography lesson, students try out time zone sticks, a polar race, and tic-tac-globe to engage them in learning more about globes and the...

Students discover mountain ranges and their locations in the world. In this physical map lesson, students locate and identify major mountain ranges of the world on a large physical map.

Students learn about rivers. In this maps lesson, students describe rivers and what human activities take place in a river. Students use a map to locate the rivers in the United States.

Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of navigation while research is conducted with the use of a variety of resources. The information is used to expand their perspective of the applications for navigation. The...

Students examine the craft of cartography and how the Lewis and Clark expedition created and used maps. They analyze maps, read a handout, create a map, participate in a mini expedition and map out a route based on travel directions,...

Students, through a variety of activities, discover the geography and culture of Mexico. They make maps, read folktales, write a journal, create pinatas and other artistic pieces, and review the history of Mexico.

After examining a map from 1803 and 2003, they explore how to become map readers. They describe what they see on the map from 1803 and compare the information to the map from 2003. Students create their own map of the neighborhood that...

In this cardinal directions worksheet, learners read a 2-page review of cardinal directions and use a globe to respond to 5 questions.

Students locate Ottawa Valley on a map. They then answer questions in reference to the map such as: What was the first use of timber in the Ottawa Valley?, What occurred first in Gatineau?, and On the Ontario side of Ottawa River, how...

Students study cloud data and weather maps to explore cloud activity.  In this cloud data lesson students locate latitude and longitude coordinates and determine cloud cover percentages.