Channel Islands Film
Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1
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...
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Radio Program #2: Ethnic Mix
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...
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State My Name
Learners study the names of all fifty states, their capitols, location on a map, and an economic resource of each state. They complete a matching game activity.
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States with Attitude, Latitude and Longitude Dude
Sixth graders identify states whose boundaries are formed by lines of latitude and longitude or natural borders such as rivers. They trace a map of the U.S., and fill in borders, rivers and lines of latitude and longitude.
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Land Use Over Time
Students view aerial photos and topographic maps of their local area. They compare and contrast major land use patterns over time by comparing these images to maps that are at least 50 years old. They analyze them using the four land use...
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Finding Longitude and Latitude on Pennsylvania Maps
Students draw the lines of longitude and latitude on a map. Students look at a topographical maps to see how topography relates to land use.
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The Battle of Brandywine
Students explore the Battle of Brandywine, how to analyze maps, and construct a model of a battlefield.
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TE Activity: The Trouble with Topos
Students study the uses of topographical maps including the many forms that they take. They discover that the map features show its intended use such as city maps, wilderness maps, and state maps. They complete a worksheet in which they...
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Ecological Pyramids
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...
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U.S. Geography: The Northeast
Students investigate U.S. Geography by creating a map in class. In this natural resource instructional activity, students create a map of the United States and research the Northeast based on their resources and recyclable...
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Trailblazers - Now and Then
Students, 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 place in...
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Getting from Place to Place
Students examine modes of transportation. In this transportation lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture on modes of transportation over the past 300 years. Students respond to questions about...
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River Study
Students study physical features of a local stream. They study how to identify water features on topographic maps.
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Watershed Delineation
Students use topographic maps to delineate a watershed.In this ecology lesson, students draw the boundaries of a watershed onto a map using contour lines as a guide. Their resulting maps are used to evaluate their understanding.
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The Great Topo Race
Students create a three dimensional island out of cardboard to examine how to read and use a topographical map. They make sure that their island can sustain life and that it has one volcanic mountain peak. They trace the parts of their...
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Geography And The Revolutionary War
Young scholars gain a deeper understanding of both geography and the Revolutionary War. They practice using on line research in examining historical events and using political, physical, and topographic maps.
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Siting Wind Power
Students analyze a variety of curves that describe the power extracted from the wind by a variety of commercially produced wind turbines. They utilize site specific topographic maps and political boundary data to evaluate and make...
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Working on the Railroad
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...
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PA Watersheds, Many Ways to the Sea
High schoolers examine the water cycle and the factors that interact with watersheds. In this watersheds lesson students describe the purification process, trace the flow of infiltrate water through aquifers, and research the...
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MAP UNIT
First graders investigate how maps are used to identify different locations. They will also appreciate how there are different types of maps for their purposes. Finally students study how maps contain symbols that represent real places.
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The Marsh Land as a Changing Environment
Sixth graders continue their examination of the state of Connecticut. After taking a field trip, they identify the types of birds, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates who make their home in the salt marshes. In groups, they identify...
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Nebraska's Geology, Soils, Groundwater Regions, and Topographic Regions
Students examine the distribution of geology, soils, groundwater, topography, and geography in Nebraska. They identify various regions and characteristics on a map, and develop a plan to manage the soil and groundwater resources of the...
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Mapmaking: Colorado Quarter Reverse
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"
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Nature and Place Names in Arkansas
Middle schoolers examine the way that many place names in Arkansas came to be. By looking at Arkansas highway maps, they find names that come from the characteristics of each of the state's six geographical divisions. This interesting...