Curated OER
Science: Draining the Land - the Mississippi River
Students use topographic maps to identify parts of rivers. In addition, they discover gradient and predict changes in the channels caused by variations in water flow. Other activities include sketching a river model with a new channel...
Curated OER
Elevation at its Peak
High schoolers pretend they are hiking up a mountain. They practice making calculations on angles and elevation. They use topographic maps to estimate distances and trigonometric ratio methods.
Curated OER
The Landscape
Students recognize and recreate the political boundaries and physical features of the nation of Slovakia. They create topographic maps of Slovakia. The maps should include labeled line drawings of bordering countries. Slovakia should be...
Curated OER
Greece: The Landscape
Young scholars work in small groups to create a topographic map of Greece. They must include labeled line drawings of bordering countries and bodies of water. Students use salt and flour clay to make Greece three dimensional, showing the...
Curated OER
Build a Model Watershed
Collaborative earth science groups create a working model of a watershed. Once it has been developed, you come along and introduce a change in land use, impacting the quality of water throughout their watershed. Model making is an...
California Academy of Science
Pollution in Our Watershed
The concept of a how pesticides and other chemicals pass through a watershed can be difficult for younger learners to grasp without a concrete example. In the activity here, some blank paper, markers, and a spray bottle are all you need...
Curated OER
World Climate Growing Zones
Students create a map showing where crops would be grown around the world. In this crops lesson plan, students show how the world climate would produce different parts of the world at different times. Students fill out worksheets.
Curated OER
Orienteering
Students proceed through a simple course following a map but not using a compass. They must find 18 controls working in pairs that leave at 2 minute intervals. Students must record letter and after finding all 18 controls they will...
Curated OER
Oil: The Problem or Solution to the World's Economic Future
Students map the major oil producing and consuming countries and regions. They identify current and future topographic and political problems that could affect the production and transportation of oil.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 1: On the Road with Marco Polo: A Boy in 13th Century Venice
Learners investigate Marco Polo's life as a young boy in 13th century Venice. They analyze maps, explore various websites, complete a chart and answer discussion questions, and create a travel brochure about visiting 13th century Venice.
Curated OER
Eagle Creek Park (A Hike)
Students plot a hiking course using aerial photos and a topographic overlay and find the latitude and longitude of absolute locations. They measure the total distance of a hiked area and figure the area of the ground walked using Heron's...
Curated OER
Plotting the Ocean Floor
Fourth graders plot points on a graph, connect the dots to make the ocean floor profile and label the topographical features. They utilize a worksheet and a website imbedded in this plan to plot the ocean floor.
Curated OER
Topos, Compasses, and Triangles, Oh My!
Middle schoolers triangulate using a compass, topographical (topo) map and a view of outside landmarks. They take a field trip to another location away from school and mark discernible landmarks (like mountains or radio towers) and...
Curated OER
Seeing the Seafloor Using Sound - Multibeam Sidescan Sonar
Students are told that sound is not just stuff that our ears hear. They are explained that it is a tool for measuring and looking at objects in a new way. Students are introduced to sound waves and sonar imaging. They are explained...
Curated OER
Lewis and Clark and the Native Americans
Students practice using maps and identifying landmarks on the Lewis and Clark expedition. They research Lewis and Clark's relationship with the Native Americans and report their findings to the class. They identify the impact of the...
Curated OER
Making A New Nation
Eighth graders read standard road maps and topographical maps, and examine the lives of pathfinders who opened the trails to the West. They develop Living History presentations, role-playing a character from the past.
Curated OER
PA Watersheds, Many Ways to the Sea
Students examine the water cycle and the factors that interact with watersheds. For this watersheds lesson students describe the purification process, trace the flow of infiltrate water through aquifers, and research the Internet...
Curated OER
Map-Making Basics
Students study maps. In this geography and art lesson, students create their own map of the classroom.
Curated OER
Then and Now, A Watershed in San Francisco
Students compare recent and historic maps to explore landscape changes. Using photos provided, students identify prominent features on the maps. They discuss differences in landscape, human impact on watershed, and changes in natural...
Curated OER
Introducing The Cariboo Gold Rush
Students demonstrate appreciation of contributions of Aboriginal peoples, the French, and the British to the development of Canada and explain how supply and demand are affected by population and the availability of resources. They then...
Curated OER
The River Ran Through It
Students identify the processes that shape our rivers and form our lakes. They participate in hands-on and multimedia activities as they discover and apply the river-cutting processes of water.
Curated OER
Water: Where in the Watershed?
Young scholars become connected to their watershed by exploring a local water body and mapping its features. They focus on how the local watershed fits into the larger scheme of the watershed.
Curated OER
Not Just for Gods and Goddesses:
Students use dictionaries, encyclopedias, art, computers, and books to study the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Greece. In this Ancient Greece lesson plan, students research maps, stories, Olympic games, and more about Ancient Greece.
Curated OER
My Own Private Idaho; Using Social Studies to Explore Idaho
Students engage in several activities to explore Idaho and Social Studies themes. Using an variety of media, students become familiar with Idaho's geography and geology.