Lesson Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young adventurers embark on a journey, setting sail along the blue ocean with Christopher Columbus. Teachers will find that this unit makes their lesson planning smooth sailing!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Map

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the process of creating an accurate map, and create a map of their playground. They identify what objects are on their playground, and discuss what is found on a map. Students then draw a map of their playground...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The O Zone-Code Read Alert

For Teachers 4th - 5th
What are the effects of an air quality alert? Expert groups receive one component of air quality information resources to study. Pupils then jigsaw into new groups and share their knowledge. Finally, they draft a statement of what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Civilization

For Teachers K
Students review map and globe skills. They gather background to the story of Christopher Columbus' voyage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orienteering - Lesson 9 - Declination

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What's the difference between true north and magnetic north? Lesson 9 has your class practicing mapping using a compass and taking the correct declination into account. This lesson is one part of a 10 lesson unit on orienteering....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography With Dr. Seuss

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners read the book, The King's Stilts by Dr. Seuss and discuss the geographical information given in the book. Then they discuss and locate on a map the physical features that make up the continent of Africa. They create an original...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Is Japan? What Direction Is It?

For Teachers 1st
First graders locate countries on maps and globes and learn about the hemispheres and the cardinal directions. They listen to books read out loud and dicuss geography.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SpellO': An Orienteering Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students participate in hands-on activities to practice orienting maps. Given activity cards, students accurately read maps and locate specific stations. Students collect information from the maps to spell a message when the activity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Country Capitals

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners locate country capitals on a world map. In this map skills lesson, students review the definition of the word country and discuss what a capital is. Learners locate and label capital cities on a world map using a map marker.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Is Japan? How Far Is That?

For Teachers 1st
First graders use literature and hands-on activities with maps and globes to explain distance and tools used to measure distance. They select tools to measure various objects in the classroom, then apply those concepts to their map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where Is Japan? How Are We Alike And Different?

For Teachers 1st
First graders use literature, maps, and globes to explain how physical environments in various parts of the world are similar to and different from one's own, and that certain areas have common characteristics and can be called regions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ghost Catcher

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read the story The Ghost Cather and complete activities related to the book. In this language arts lesson plan, 2nd graders complete comprehension questions, art projects, and more.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summertime Travel

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders write about a summer event they participated in. In this paragraph writing instructional activity, the teacher models how to write about a place they have visited. Students then write their own paragraphs.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Color is the Ocean?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students view satellite pictures of the ocean, and discuss the presence of phytoplankton and the colors of the ocean. Students compare/contrast ocean satellite images with maps and globes, then color world maps to replicate the satellite...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New: Around the World

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify and demonstrate how symbols and models are used to represent features of the environment. They use a map and a globe to label where the students in the book came from, point out the continent, and show which ocean...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Projections

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners identify map projections and examine polar maps. In this map skills lesson, students use a flat world map to identify various projections and calculate the distances between locations by using a map scale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bunyans Lesson Plan

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students practice their map skills. In this early childhood lesson plan, students use a map of the United States and identify the location of several natural wonders included in the book The Bunyans by Audrey Wood.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leapin' Landmarks: Locating 10 Man-made Landmarks Around the World

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders label continents, oceans, and major mountain ranges on maps and use the maps to write an informational report about landmarks. In this landmarks lesson plan, 3rd graders write about 1 major landmark.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land Elevation

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate land elevation. In this map skills lesson, students use a physical map to identify various elevations of the land. Students find landform features such hills and coastlines.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three Mapping Activities

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Pupils label three maps of China after being introduced to background information about the country. In this geography lesson plan, students color two maps and label various points of interest in China. Finally, pupils draw...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Archer and The Sun

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore Chinese folktales. In this Chinese folktale lesson ,students read Chinese folktales, locate China on a map, and color the Chinese flag. Students are given sentence strips to hold and must arrange themselves in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Many Ways Can You Say Merry Christmas?

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners create a multicultural holiday bulletin board map! students research and study saying Merry Christmas in different languages. They correctly locate the countries on a world map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Map and Globe - Four Main Directions

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students study the four main directions on a map. In this map lesson, students locate the North and South pole, and learn the four cardinal directions. They use the compass rose on a map to help with the directions. (Map is not included...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Class Is On the Map

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders review map keys, symbols, and the purpose of maps, then students design a poster size map of their classroom.