Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Bridges for Young Learners -- Community

For Teachers K - 5th
Learners compare and contrast communities.They explore factors that influence how people live, the roles of adults and children, and the interaction of people who live and work within a community. The lesson focuses on the country of...
Lesson Plan
Peace Corps

Community

For Teachers K - 5th Standards
What is a community? Find out with a lesson that sheds light onto the different types of communities—school, local, and global. Scholars read informational text detailing the life of a young girl from Cape Verde and take part in a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: Narrative vs. Expository Texts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A reading of vignettes written by Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Lesotho and Madagascar launches a study of the difference between narrative and expository texts. As final products, young writers craft both a narrative and an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the World Globe

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine a globe and the world map to see what constitutes the differences. In this world map introductory lesson, students discuss what they see when they view the globe. Students then, look at a world map and compare the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Dropped What into the Melting Pot?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students show the movement of people to the United States from other countries on maps. They study the geographic cultural roots of foods that contribute to the melting pot of food in America. They research where an ingredient comes from...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Our Past: Where Did Humans Come From?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students brainstorm about evolution and explore the processes of evolution.  In this investigative lesson students map out evolution and compare the two theories after researching them. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Cultural Geography of Egypt

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars describe Egypt's historical, cultural and recreational sites and activities. They explain Egyptian customs and conduct; and apply what they have learned to create a travel brochure about Egypt.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
The centerpiece of this lesson plan is a predator-prey simulation in which colored paperclips represent different species of animals camouflaged against a colored background. Relevant follow-up questions are provided. The activity is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lewis and Clark: The Language of Discovery

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars replicate some of the trailblazing methods of Lewis and Clark on a fifteen-minute "writing journey" through the school or neighborhood.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Population Density

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine world population density and population distribution. They create pie charts showing population distribution and analyze population patterns in the United States and major regions of the world. They identify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

International Institute of Archaeology an Anthropology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research early humans and their cultures. They conduct Internet research, discuss their findings with their group, evaluate the information provided by artifacts, and create a report to present to a simulated archaeology institute.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Students Become Mapmakers

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars practice making a map of a continent and correctly plotting five cities on that map. They place latitude and longitude lines on a map, determine the need for various map projections and explain why map scales are necessary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mending the Rift

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners determine what factors identify a country's political borders. After reading an article, they investigate questions surrounding the Great Rift Valley. On a map, they trace the valley from Asia through Africa and research the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Bridges for Young Learners--Culture

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners explore the concept of "culture." In this cross curriculum literacy and world history lesson, students listen to a letter written by a child from Namibia, then compare and contrast life in Africa with their own life. Learners...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Is Tanzania

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students begin the lesson by locating Tanzania on a world map. While reading an article, they note what the author's opinion is of the people who live there and discover the connection the people have with the land. They examine the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating Climographs

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Pupils chart statistical information on graphs, interpret the information and use it to explain spatial relationships, and identify the relationship between climate and vegetation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mesoamerica

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students demonstrate knowledge of early Middle American civilizations. They study Mesoamerican i religions, governments, and achievements. They identify geographies of North and South America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcano Above the Clouds

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students develop a travelogue to describe the distinct ecological regions of Mount Kilimanjaro. They describe the health issues that may affect climbers, and any necessary equipment or safety precautions that the team may need at each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time Zones

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders have a greater understanding of time zones, explain the basic history and purpose in the creation of time zones, and use time zone maps to calculate the time/day in a certain area.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rocky Shore

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare a realistic landscape painting with a photograph of the same place.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scenes from Cameroon

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine art by a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon. Using the artwork, they identify three physical land features. They use sand and other materials to create their own day or evening scene in Cameroon. They share their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

See the World

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders locate and write creatively about different places and their cultures. They identify the physical, economic, social, political and cultural characteristics of selected regions in the Eastern Hemisphere. Finally, 7th...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

This Is Tanzania

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars explore Tanzania. In this geography skills lesson, students read This is Tanzania by Richard Lupinsky, Jr. and discuss the impact that volcanoes have had on the nation. Young scholars analyze the imagery in Lupinsky's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geographic Luck

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine why some countries are rich while others remain poor. They view a video on the website, Guns, Germs and Steel, analyze primary sources to conduct research about plants and animals, and create a game based on their research.