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Natural Features as a Resource
Young scholars identify resources provided by nature for basic human needs. In this natural features activity, students discuss the various regions of the United States. They explore one region in depth and complete activities that...
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From Sea to Shining Sea
Students study the geography of the United States of America. Students write letters, create travel brochures, make maps, graph population numbers, read fiction and nonfiction selections, complete KWL charts, and watch films.
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Where Did My Lunch Come From? A U.S. Regional Tour
Students explore the regions from which their food comes. In this social studies lesson, students identify the different agricultural products that are found in the major regions of the United States. Students create a lunch menu.
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Find a Cave
Students locate their own communites and the nearest caves on a United States map. They calculate the distance to the nearest cave using rough scale.
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Journey to Gettysburg
Learners use latitude and longitude to map the path of the Battle of Gettysburg.
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Rice Farming in Texas
Third graders explore how rice farming came to Texas. In this rice farming lesson, 3rd graders discover the history of how farmers began to grow rice in the United States. Students color code maps and create a timeline for rice farming...
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Energy Generating a Culture: Early American Coal Miners and Coal Mining Culture
Young scholars calculate how much coal they use based on their electric power usage. In this environmental science lesson, students trace the history of coal mining in US. They write a letter to USPS to encourage them to create coal...
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Michigan Food: From Farm to You
Students recognize Michigan on a map and understand how its climate is affected by the Great Lakes. In this Michigan food lesson, students play a trivia game to identify the produce of Michigan. Students relate the climate in each part...
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Policies that Relate to American Indians
Eleventh graders demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the western settlement patterns on American Indians. They analyze the growth and division of the United States from 1820 through 1877 and examine the non-Indian concept of...
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Where in the Latitude Are You? A Longitude Here.
Students distinguish between latitude and longitude on the map. In this mapping lesson, students participate in mapping skills to recognize spatial relationships, and where to find natural resources on the map. Students create...
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Major Organic Acids in Fruits
Students investigate the organic acids present in a variety of juices. In this organic acids lesson plan, students read about the effects of organic acids in juices. They use paper chromatography to separate out the acids present in a...
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Rice Consumption
Fourth graders discover facts about rice and how it is farmed. In this rice research lesson plan, 4th graders investigate how much rice is eaten in the United States compared to other countries. Students research countries and graph the...
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Evaluating an Illinois Earthquake
Learners examine the frequency of earthquakes in Illinois. They discover the distribution of earthquakes in the Midwest. They also practice reading measurements from the Richter scale and Mercalli Intensity scale.
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Name That Cheese!
Students explore a variety of cheese. In this cheese instructional activity, students sample 4 different cheeses produced from cow's milk and recorded their observations about the cheeses prior to identifying them.
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Escape - Civil War
Fourth graders role play the Underground Railroad in this lesson. They review the Underground Railroad and how people used it during the Civil War. They then are divided into groups, and role play with each group taking a different...
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Port of Entry
Young scholars research patterns of immigration throughout American history. The focus is on the process of how immigrants came through Ellis Island. Students reflect upon the topic to develop critical thinking skills.
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Settling in the Midwest
Fourth graders search a database for pictures of home that early Midwestern settlers lived in. They create a class presentation using the pictures.
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Transportation's affect on the Growth of Cities in the United States
Eighth graders identify the major advancements that have been made in transportation throughout U.S. history (waterways, horses, steam power, railroads, automobiles, etc.) They access websites imbedded in this plan and answer questions...
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Social Studies: Geographic Regions
Third graders create Powerpoint presentations about the five themes of geography in regions of the United States. They focus on the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions. Students use both pictures and words in their shows.
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Real People, Real Farms: Case Studies of Animal Agriculture
Students explore sustainable animal production. For this agriculture lesson, students examine how animal production is managed in the US and world. They apply this knowledge to real life situations by evaluating the sustainability of a...
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Where is Rice Grown?
Fifth graders create a timeline of the development of rice as an important crop. In this agricultural history lesson, 5th graders read about the history behind why rice was grown and where it is grown. Students demonstrate their learning...
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Fur, Feathers and Fins
Students examine the stages between growing the animal and buying it at the grocery store. In food system lesson students study the role that animal products have on nutrition and study animal agriculture.
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Exploring Indiana's Natural Resources
Fourth graders complete a variety of activities as they study the European exploration of the Midwest, focusing on Indiana. They map the path explorers took, comparing the British with the French. They research why the explorers stopped...
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Real People, Real Farms: Case studies of organic agriculture
Eighth graders study examples of organic agriculture from around the country. In this sustainable agriculture lesson students apply what they learn to real life situations.