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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning A Railroad

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use topographical maps students explain the challenges involved in building the railroad in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Edge of the Lake

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the geography of Nevada. In this map-making lesson, 2nd graders use salt dough to create a relief map of Nevada. Students label the landforms and bodies of water that are studied and specified in the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning a Railroad Online Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students design a train route using a topographical map. In this historical and spatial thinking lesson plan, students must plan a route through the Sierra Nevada mountains that a train could physically travel. Links to printable student...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planning A Railroad Online Lesson

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson, students first discover how to read...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Westward Expansion : Mapping

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders travel along exploring the expeditions of John F. Fremont. In this Westward expansion lesson, 5th graders gain understanding of the events that shaped the west through the use of maps. Students use mapping skills to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environment: John Muir Day

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students observe John Muir Day by visiting Websites containing fact sheets, excepted writings, as well as songs, pictures, and educational sources. They use April 21 as a day to reflect on Muir's accomplishment and environmental legacy....
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Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Perfect Postcards: California

For Teachers 4th Standards
It's time to hear about some adventures in travel! The Transcontinental Railroad changed life and travel in the United States during the 1800s. Practicing online research skills, pupils discover the features they would like to visit on...
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Worksheet
K12 Reader

United States Geography

For Students 2nd - 3rd Standards
Encourage reading for information with a text about United States geography. Kids read a short passage about the landforms in the United States, including mountain ranges and natural resources, and answer five reading comprehension...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Utah Weather

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders diagram the weather in Utah through the use of a glyph. In this Utah weather instructional activity, 4th graders create weather glyphs of different areas in the state. Students answer questions about the weather and then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dragon's Gate

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students read Dragon's Gate as a shared literature book. This lesson plan provides excellent extension activities students can engage in while they are reading, and after they have finished the book.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography Journey

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the geographic features that define places and regions and answer questions about the state of California. They discuss the components of a map legend and answer worksheet questions using a map of California as a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

U.S. Geography: California

For Students 4th - 5th
In this map skills about the state of California worksheet, students locate and label specific places and areas and create a map key and symbolize the economy and areas of personal interest. Students answer 5 questions. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson III: Crisis, Pearl Harbor, Internment

For Teachers 9th - 11th
The third in a series of lessons introduced by “A Fence Away From Freedom,” uses the Smithsonian website, “A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution” and focuses on the section of the presentation devoted to the...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

America the Beautiful

For Teachers 7th
Students analyze the physical geography of the United States and how we have adapted to or altered the land to create the country we know today. Students complete maps with physical features, states and cities of interest.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Gathering Season

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the traditional Washoe gathering season, and the importance of pine nuts and the goom-sa-'bye ceremony in the fall. They roast pine nuts and dance a traditional circle dance. They explore some of the Washoe vocabulary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquakes

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore reasons for earthquakes. They discuss and describe the types of faults. Using the internet, 6th graders research a specific location of a former earthquake. They describe the damage, magnitude, the epicenter,...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Students 6th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students utilize a word bank of 10 terms or phrases to answer 10 fill in the blank questions pertaining to Manifest Destiny. A short answer question is included as well.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Geography of the United States

For Teachers 9th
Students examine the population growth of the United States.  In this Geography lesson, students construct a map of the fifty states.  Students create a graph of the population of the USA. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography: Why Is the Sacremento Valley a Good Place to Grow Rice?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders locate the Sacramento Valley in California where rice is grown. In this rice growing location lesson, 3rd graders locate the Sacremento Valley, California on a map, and color the mountain ranges and terrain that is around...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Cavern

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students make a classroom cave using chairs, desks, and sheets to create a meandering path. They explore safety steps for spelunking exploration.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cavern Life

For Teachers K - 12th
Students describe elements and conditions that effect cavern life. They explain the three cavern zones and the differences of each zone. They perform various activities based on grade level.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Caverns: Types of speleothems

For Teachers K - 12th
Students identify types of speleothems commonly found in limestone caverns. They perform various activities based on grade level.