Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map It!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders collect and explore different maps and their uses before using the program Pixie to create maps of geographic features, political features, and economic information for the state in which they live.
Lesson Plan
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Continents and Oceans on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
Lesson Plan
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Trailblazers - Now and Then

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars, working in pairs, use maps to determine the most efficient routes between two cities. They research which route would have been used by early trailblazers. They present a first person account of one of the trailblazers...
Lesson Plan
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Waldseemuller's Map: World 1507

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders analyze various maps.  In this Geography lesson, 7th graders create a large map as a whole class.  Students write a letter to Mr. Waldseemuller. 
Lesson Plan
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Topographic Connections: Earth's Surface Shapes Streams; Streams Sculpt the Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers identify physical characteristics of developing streams and infer changes in the landscape by creating a river model.
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NOAA

Sediments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Calcareous ooze ... what an interesting name! The 15th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on sediments found on the ocean floor. After viewing the slideshow lecture,...
Worksheet
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Gallery Walk Questions on Rivers

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
A Gallery Walk is a technique that allows small groups to visit different stations, where they examine and discuss materials about an overarching topic. Questions about rivers and fluvial processes are available in this resource;...
Lesson Plan
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Our Keystone FFA Spring

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify where their water sources and explore a watershed on a map.  In this watershed lesson students walk a wetland, and identify sources of pollution.
Lesson Plan
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Running Water/Rivers-Life Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the parts of a river system and use topographical maps to determine the stage of the river.
Lesson Plan
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Where are the Watersheds in San Francisco?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students create a mental map of San Francisco. They compare it with actual topographical maps of the city. Then they label various locations on the San Francisco Hillshade map and locate watershed boundaries.
Lesson Plan
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If I Can't See It, How Do I Know It's There?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students build a model ocean using a variety of materials representing the various levels of the ocean. They collect data about the ocean floor in a partner activity. They practice working with topographical mapping grids.
Lesson Plan
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Book: Spain

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students, after reading Chapter One in the book, "Spain," design and re-create the political boundaries as well as the physical features of nation of Spain. They utilize play-doh or salt dough to illustrate and create their three...
Lesson Plan
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Design an Island

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students make a map of an imaginary island using the topographic symbols provided from a worksheet. Students place lakes, dwellins, reefs, etc. in areas where they would logically be located from understanding how the topography of an...
Lesson Plan
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U.S. Geography: The Northeast

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate U.S. Geography by creating a map in class. In this natural resource lesson, students create a map of the United States and research the Northeast based on their resources and recyclable materials.  Students...
Lesson Plan
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The Sexton and the Compass

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students evaluate how movement patterns create and affect interdependence. They analyze the interactions within and between regions and engage in artistic inquiry, exploration, and discovery in collaboration with others. They design...
Lesson Plan
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Mapping your watershed

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate the importance of watersheds around the world. By visiting resource links, students can locate watersheds and their sources in the USA and Russia and analyze their effects on the surrounding topography. This lesson...
Lesson Plan
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Mapping Seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students describe major topographic features on the Patton Seamount, and interpret two-dimensional topographic data. They create three-dimensional models of landforms from two-dimensional topographic data.
Lesson Plan
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Mud Maps

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Pupils discuss the location of stores, buildings, and homes in their community. Afterwards, they create a 'mud map' demonstrating the route from one point to another. In pairs, students read travel directions from a brochure, while other...
Lesson Plan
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Mapmaking: Colorado Quarter Reverse

For Teachers K - 1st
Students examine the Colorado quarter reverse and draw symbols of the state's land and water features on maps. Using copies of the Colorado reverse, they color the coin design. They list reasons for the state's motto of "Colorful Colorado"
Lesson Plan
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Making a Region Map of a State

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create salt maps of a state and indicate its regions. They include topographical elements including mountains, valleys, lowlands and major water bodies and a compass rose.
Lesson Plan
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Using My Nasa Data To Determine Volcanic Activity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students use NASA satellite data of optical depth as a tool to determine volcanic activity on Reunion Island during 2000-2001. They access the data and utilize Excel to create a graph that has optical depth as a function of time for the...
Lesson Plan
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Virtual Geologic Field Trip to Griffith Park

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore the geological processes and research methodology involved in the evolution and development of Griffith Park. They justify the selection of a geologic hypothesis based on observations.
Lesson Plan
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Common Themes

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders test usefulness of a model Earth by comparing its predictions to observations in the real world.  In this landforms lesson students construct an island from a contour map using model clay then analyze the landscape...
Lesson Plan
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Ecological Pyramids

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students apply the ecological pyramids of numbers and biomass with an activity using topographic maps. In this trophic level lesson, students work in groups using a topographic map to determine the number of organisms that can live in an...