Lesson Plan
Global Change

Impact of Climate Change on the Desert Pupfish

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
A fish that lives in the desert? You and your class can meet the desert pupfish as they examine its habitat, the role humans play in diminishing water supplies, and how climate change might impact this fishy friend. There are four short...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geography and Culture in South Carolina

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore South Carolina. In this cultural heritage instructional activity, students investigate the topography of South Carolina using maps. Young scholars are engaged in identifying the different regions of the state and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TOPSY TURVY MAPS

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders use the data analyzer and motion detector to collect data and measure distances. They create topographic maps drawn to scale of a given setup and relate the concepts to the creation of historical ocean maps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Shuttle's Eye View

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the goals of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission as a springboard to exploring the topographical features of their own state or region. They synthesize their understanding of landforms and topography by mapping their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Welcome to My World!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students use maps to locate information. They read the story, "It Looked Like Spilt Milk", view images of the continents and discuss the various continents. Afterward, they make their own Atlas to record information that they can later...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Your Local Watershed!

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners study how to map their local watershed from a topographic map. They find the watershed on an aerial photograph and use maps and aerial photos from the Web to identify the human activity within the watershed, as well as various...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction of the Lunar Relief Map Project

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Pupils investigate the geographic features of the surface of the moon. In this lunar relief map instructional activity, students watch and discuss the Apollo II Moon landing and make preliminary plans for their lunar maps.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gallery Walk Questions on Weathering and Mass Wasting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A set of questions on weathering and erosion are found in this resource. Some of them can be used as discussion topics or lecture guides. There are also suggested activities such as the examination of topographic quadrangles and the...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

WATER You Doing to Help?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Auntie Litter is here to educate young scholars about water pollution and environmental stewardship! Although the 15-minute video clip is cheesy, it's an engaging look at the water cycle and conservation. Learners start by illustrating...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanoes!: Forecasting the Path of Mudflows

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students construct a mockup of a volcano by crumbling up newspapers and piling them into the shape of a volcano. They place a tarp over the newspapers making sure the tarp is large enough to simulate a flat area at the volcano's base....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracing Highs and Lows in San Francisco

For Teachers 9th - 12th
On a topographic map, students identify the scale bar, north arrow, and contour interval. They then locate a hill on the map and make note of the contour lines. Students then locate other places with similar contour line patterns....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hungary: The Landscape

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners work in small groups to create a topographic map of Hungary. The map will include labeled line drawing of the bordering countries. Hungary should be three dimensional, made of salt and flour clay. The mountains, plains and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Italy: The Landscape

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students work in small groups to create a topographic map of Italy. They must include labeled line drawings of bordering countries and bodies of water. Students use salt and flour clay to make Italy three dimensional, showing the many...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Radio Program #2: Ethnic Mix

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students examine patterns of migration into the area. They complete various map activities and interviews. Students partake in family histories as well. On a map of Europe, identify the countries of immigrant origin mentioned in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Delicate Balance - Iowa's Natural Resources

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Discover the natural resources in Iowa by studying it's history. In this environmental lesson, your young scholars will observe a topographical map of Iowa and identify where its most valuable resources are. They complete an Iowa name...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Listen to the Land

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars discover how we use land. They gain insight into the way we use the land, both for benefit and consequence. Students explore how to 'listen to the land' as they make decisions on how it should be used and the consequences...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding a Geological Map

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify different types of maps and observe a geological map.  In this geology instructional activity students create a replica map of a geological area that includes a key. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geologic Mapping I

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students create a geologic map and cross-section of an area of horizontal sedimentary rocks, exposed in several locations. Map must include a complete key or legend with rock descriptions of the various formations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surveying the Land

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore the different kinds of maps and the purpose of each.  In this Geography lesson, students work in small groups to create a map which includes the use of a map key.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forest Fun

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore orienteering and how to use a compass. They explore the importance of forests and identify some of the trees in a local forest.
Lesson Plan
1
1
Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation class members engage in a series of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Topo Triangulation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate how to read a topographical map and triangulate with just a map. They convert a compass measurement to a protractor measurement, reverse a bearing direction, and using a worksheet take a bearing of certain landmarks...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cookie Mapping

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the components of a bedrock geology map through a hands-on activity involving a cookie and graph paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson 8: Changes in Deerfield, Massachusetts Shown in Maps

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study maps of the same area from different time periods which show the ways in which the land stayed the same, and the ways this New England village changed over the years.