Students read and think about the relationship between maps and nature. They examine the origins of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the large-scale topographical surveys that were commissioned a century later. They also read and analyze...

Students interpret a variety of informational texts to gain understanding of basic concepts about how census data are used. In this census lesson, students read maps, complete worksheets, and work in small groups to become aware of...

Young scholars interview a hero. In this heroes instructional activity, students read Number the Stars to begin a discussion about heroes and then create mind maps on each character. Young scholars pick a local hero and interview them...

Students read about the creation of a football program at a small-town school in Alaska. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary activity, then students read the news report and...

Students 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 plan, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...

Learners explore Civil Rights by reading several books in class. In this Underground Railroad lesson, students discuss The Story of Henry Box Brown and identify the location and functionality of the Underground Railroad. Learners answer...

Fourth graders read about Harriet Tubman and develop vocabulary lists.  In this Underground Railroad lesson, 4th graders find similarities and differences in primary and secondary sources, create a timeline and recognize important...

Students view a news program from Frontline. They discover who the Taliban are and identify their locations on maps. They compare and contrast the changes in Pakistan from 2004 to 2006.

Students use the classroom atlases, the Internet or textbooks to draw a freehand map. They work in groups using the maps in the book The Broken Spears (Portilla) and The Conquest of New Spain (Diaz) to draw a freehand map identifying...

Fourth graders read and analyze the novel, Robin Hood. They create a vocabulary word map, complete a Venn diagram comparing Robin Hood and Little John, act out a chapter, create a wedding announcement, and write a new epitaph for Robin...

Fourth graders read Letters from Rifka and discuss the feelings of people forced to leave their homes and countries.  In this migration lesson, 4th graders relate their feelings about moving from their home forever. Students trace...

Third graders access prior knowledge of the monarch butterfly and discuss what they would like to know.  In this Monarch Butterfly instructional activity,students read Monarch Butterfly and discuss the life cycle of the butterfly....

Students complete various activities related to the book "Postcard From Bear." They participate in a shared reading activity, identify the locations in the book on a map, and write a postcard to the bear in the story.

Middle schoolers consider how an author creates a feeling of suspense in a reader's mind. They analyze characters in the story. Students make a character map for Peter. They discuss how suspense unfolds in the novel Number the Stars.

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, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary activity,...

Students analyze an African folktale. In this literature lesson, students read the story "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" by John Steptoe and analyze the acts of kindness in the story. Students identify the setting of the story and find...

Students practice their reading comprehension while listening to a classic folktale from India.  For this cultural storytelling lesson, students read the book The Cleverest Thief and complete word identification worksheets based on...

Learners evaluate the various ways in which cyberspace is beginning to be mapped by geographers, cartographers, artists, and scientists and use their understanding of the information these new maps can convey to create their own maps of...

Students pretend they have visited a forest research station on an overnight field trip. They study forest fires, use compass directions, read maps, interpret imagery, and think about the impact of fire on ecosystems.

Young scholars review some important concepts and terms relevant to the Human Genome Project and genetic research. The game is played like a mind reading session between two teams.

Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the development of geography skills. They take part in a number of activities that center around finding and traveling to different locations. The lesson has resource links that can be...

Sixth graders explore economic systems. In this economics lesson, 6th graders discover global markets. Students work in small groups to identify where their clothing and materials originated. Students locate countries on a map and...

Students explore a West African folktale. In this folktale lesson, students read the book The Clever Monkey Rides Again and discuss the trickster characters from the tale. Students participate in a discussion about the folktale and...

Learners describe how the sun heats the Earth, explain the nature of infrared light, explain how thunderstorms are formed and use infrared maps to predict severe weather.