Curated OER
Size It Up
Students practice their math skills in determining the water/land proportions of the Earth. Using globes, they locate the seven continents and oceans and determine which covers more space. They use this information to participate in...
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Visiting the Arctic Circle
Students familiarize themselves with the Arctic Circle by locating it on a globe and wall map. They discuss they climate in the North Pole and the reasons for its low temperatures. They compare and contrast the climates of the Arctic...
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Monarch Butterflies
First graders listen to books about butterflies and look at pictures of butterflies. Students review the stages of butterflies and learn the migratory path the monarch takes in its adult stage.
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Oceans
First graders recognize that nearly three quarters of the Earth is covered by ocean. They locate the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic oceans on a map. They describe the difference between ocean water and fresh water.
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The Breathtaking Nature of the Urban Explosion, Part 2
Students explore ozone levels. They measure the concentrations of ground-level ozone in the atmosphere. Students observe changes in the concentrations of ozone over time. Students complete a data sheet to record ozone readings over a...
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Snow Cover By Latitude
Students examine computerized data maps in order to create graphs of the amount of snowfall found at certain latitudes by date. Then they compare the graphs and the data they represent. Students present an analysis of the graphs.
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Where Is Hoku?
Students are introduced to map making and reading. Using maps, they identify the cardinal directions and discuss the importance of a legend. They analyze the human characteristics of the classroom and create overhead view maps of the...
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Earthweek
Students explore the ongoing changes in the relationship between human beings and their physical world. They read articles on environmental changes. Students write a short analysis of the effect of the event on the residents of the area...
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Fair Trade: Chocolate Can Be Good For You
Students discover the process of chocolate production. They read stories from boys in Ghana and Brazil who work on cocoa plantations. They illustrate the principles of fair trade.
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Geography: Snow Cover on the Continents
Students create maps of snow cover for each continent by conducting Internet research. After estimating the percentage of continental snow cover, they present their findings in letters, brochures or Powerpoint presentations.
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Scrambled States
Students read or are read the story "Scrambled States". Using a map, they identify their states and time zones. They predict their states representation in the book and discuss it after the book is finished. They discvor the differences...
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Water, Water Everywhere
Students are introduced to the complex issues of water resources around the globe. In groups, they take on the role of a country and map out the location of water sources. They barter, sell or take over other groups to have access to...
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GIS and Agriculture
Students are introduced GIS systems and how they operate. Using a GIS system, they locate and map the various types of agricultural products grown in Oregon. They rank each county based on the amount of agricultural products produced and...
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America the Beautiful
Students listen to a read-aloud discussing the landmarks of the United States. In pairs, they use the internet to research a landmark of their choice. They create a visual aid to be given with a presentation sharing the information...
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In The Shadow of Angkor
Students are introduced to basic historic and geographic facts about Cambodia. They understand the spiritual component of Cambodia's art. They identify Cambodia on a map of the world. They construct a graphic representation of a film...
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Biome Web Quest
Third graders create paper mache globes, paint them and label the oceans and the continents. In groups, they research a biome, write about it and create an artistic visual representation of the biome and present it to the class.
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Learning to Swim in Swaziland
Students explore everyday life in Swaziland and compare and contrast it to their own everyday life.
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Monarch Butterflies
First graders identify monarch butterflies and study their life cycles. They order the stages of the life cycle and create a monarch butterfly of construction paper. This well-designed activity should be easy to implement in your classroom.
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"The Clever Monkey"
Second graders complete a variety of activities related to the book "The Clever Monkey" by Rob Cleveland. They answer story comprehension questions, and rewrite the story. Students also complete a comprehension and fact or opinion...
National WWII Museum
“My Dear Little Boys…” Interpreting a letter home from the war
Letters have long been prized by historians as primary sources for what they reveal not only about events but also about the emotional responses of the writers to these events. "My Dear Little Boys," a letter written by Leonard Isacks on...
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Go To Sleep, Gecko!
Second graders examine the interdependence of organisms using the book "Go To Sleep, Gecko!" They examine a variety of food chains, listen to the book, and answer story comprehension questions. Students then conduct research on food...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Faces of Climate Change
You know global warming is real when your squirrel feeder is full of popped corn instead of kernels! Activity two in a series of five allows learners to explore climate change through the eyes of another. After briefly analyzing their...
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Planning A Vacation Online
If you could travel anywhere in the United States, where would you go? Use this question to interest your fourth, fifth, and sixth graders as they experiment with Mapquest or other direction-based resources. They choose where they'd like...
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Town Growth and Immigration
Fourth graders describe how Michigan has changed and stayed the same over time. They explain reasons why people settled/settle in Michigan, then explain the role of geography on the settlement of Michigan.