Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interdisciplinary Unit Planning II

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students create playground maps and identify means of using these maps to enhance social studies learning of elementary students. They develop elementary-level interdisciplinary unit plans using social studies content for the primary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working on the Railroad

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students plan a trip on the railroad.  In this railroad creation and implementation lesson plan, students listen to the song "Working on the Railroad", make a map of where the track was laid and discuss the geographical...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Play Doh Map of Your State

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students create a state map using Playdoh. In this hands-on state geography lesson, students work in groups to form a three-dimensional  map of their state using Playdoh made at home following a (given) recipe. Students use four...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Me on the Map Lesson 2

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners analyze and interpret maps, globes and geographic information systems to define and identify cities, counties, states, countries and continents to create a booklet called me on the map. They also determine and calculate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning about Maps and Colors

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss "Harold and the Purple Crayon" and his drawings. For this neighborhood geography lesson, 1st graders learn to detect and classify places on a map including their home. Students recognize their address as a specific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

200 Years and Counting: How the U.S. Census Tracks Social Trends

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the process of census taking in the United States. In this "200 Years and Counting" lesson, students examine the data collection process, look at an example of a census form, analyze data, and learn what the information...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Combining Map and Compass

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers practice using the map and compass to find a location. In this geography lesson series, students identify basic requirements needed when traveling in the wilderness. They plan a healthy menu for a backpacking trip.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ANALYSIS

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine a variety of maps and documents to identify physical and cultural features of neighborhoods, cities, states, and countries, to explain the historical migration of people, expansion and disintegration of empires, and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Students Slide to School on Air-Powered Sled

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students locate the Great Lakes on a US map, then read a news article about a sled being used as a wintertime school bus in Wisconsin. In this current events lesson plan, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping and Excavating a Jello Mold

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students simulate how archaeologists excavate sites by "searching" their own site in the form of a Jello mold. They use a grid to map the objects in the Jello mold as well as looking at three layers of Jello to understand stratigraphy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

School Sleuths Treasure Map

For Teachers K - 5th
Students are explained how a grid and compass work. They are also explained that archaeologists use grids as a record of the exact location of artifacts. Students define the term datum as a point of reference on grids from which all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paul Conrad's Perspective on Civil Rights

For Teachers 11th
 Students review a political cartoon and discuss desegregation.  In this cartoon analysis lesson, 11th graders discuss the impact of a political cartoon and its relation to a Supreme Court case.  Students read additional...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

The Debate on Slavery

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Young historians research the debate over slavery; some students take the pro-slavery side and others the anti-slavery side. They take the role of a character such as a plantation owner, a legislator, a free Black, a slave, or a northern...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introductory Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the reasons for the Vietnam War.  For this World History lesson, students complete three activities that expand and reinforce their knowledge on why the Vietnam war was fought.
Lesson Plan
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A Town on the Move

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Learners evaluate the moving of buildings, then read a news article about one town relocating building to save their economy. In this economics and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Baseball

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students research how climate, distance, population shifts and immigration have influenced American baseball. They also consider how players from other countries have made their mark on American baseball.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 1: The Creek War - Return to Nativism or International Pawn? Religious War or International Conflict?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the countries and peoples involved in the Creek Indian War. They study the complex relationships between American and European settlers and the native Alabamians in the early 19th Century.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Government Lesson Plan: Lesson Plan 12

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Young scholars investigate various political systems around the world. They complete a chart that compares the U.S. political system with other nations' governments, conduct research on a selected nation, and present an oral report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography Lesson 1

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine relationship between population centers and sports teams, explore influence of weather on attendance, and research influence of geography, traffic flow and disposable income on site selection for sports stadiums.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spanish Influence on United States Currency: The Origins of the "Dollar"

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research the Spanish influence on early colonial America and the process of establishing the present U.S. currency. They read and discuss an informational handout in small groups, and take a short quiz. Students then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The State Seal Offline Lesson

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discover the meaning of the different objects on the State Seal. They identify changes in the State Seal over time students hypothesize why elements have changed students suggest what elements should represent the State of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tools of the Trade: The Use of Geographic Tools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the tools of demographic analysis and apply them to real-world situations. They analyze maps, define terminology, and write an information paper for the appropriate government agency to recommend an action or policy change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Where Animals Live

For Teachers Pre-K - 5th
What type of reptiles live in New York State? This lesson gets the class thinking about what factors determine where particular animals live. They analyze the Hudson Valley environment, identify specific reptile and amphibian...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Countries of the World

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students define the meaning of the word country. In this countries of the world map lesson, students identify boundaries, countries, and symbols within countries on the map. Students distinguish the words country and continent.