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National Expansion
Learners investigate the Manifest Denstiny. They explore how the idea was evident in 19th century American maps. Students brainstorm the relationships between maps and national expansion. They review a map from 1816 that called for...
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Countries of the World
Learners define the meaning of the word country. In this countries of the world map lesson plan, students identify boundaries, countries, and symbols within countries on the map. Learners distinguish the words country and continent.
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What's Your Temperature?
Learners take a look at the local newspaper and focus on the weather section. They get into small groups, and each one looks at the same map, but of a different part of the country. They must prepare a presentation that shows how...
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Rivers Run Through It
Using a relief map of New York State, learners answer questions about the distance between different cities, identify bodies of water, and more. First, they discuss vocabulary related to the Hudson River area. Then, they complete a...
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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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Arbor Day Across the United States
Students perform research about hardiness zones used to guide planting. They read a hardiness zone color-key map and create their own color-key maps to show when different states celebrate Arbor Day.
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Learning the 50 States
Young scholars become familiar with all 50 states over the course of ten days.
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Geography Booklet
Sixth graders explore geography terms. Students use resources to find real examples of landforms in the world. They create a map showing the landform. students label the surrounding features, countries and states. Students use each...
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Mapping Martin Luther King Jr.
Students examine geographic locations that were important in Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. They research Martin Luther King Jr., and create U.S. maps that show the locations important to him.
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Using Literature to Introduce the Five Themes of Geography
Students listen to a read aloud of "If You Grew Up With Abraham Lincoln". Using the text, they identify examples of the five themes of geography and write them down. Using a map, they plot the places mentioned in the book and sort facts...
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United States & Canada: How Are We The Same? How Are We Different?
Students compare and contrast similarities and differences between Canada and the US. In this geography lesson plan, students read various articles and identify similarities and differences in economies, cultures, geography,...
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Know Your Area
Young scholars investigate transit by analyzing their school surroundings. In this local geography lesson, students identify their school in relation to the rest of their state, country and globe. Young scholars discuss their personal...
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Living Swamps, Bayous and Forests
Third graders explore interesting environments by exploring Louisiana. In this wetland lesson, 3rd graders utilize the web to research the State of Louisiana, the bayous in the area, and the Gulf of Mexico. Students write a journal entry...
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Expanding the Mission: Historical Parks
Students explore U.S. geography by viewing a documentary in class. In this national parks lesson, students view video clips of individual national parks and locate them using Google Earth software. Students create a persuasive...
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The Crash Scene
Fifth graders explore geography by participating in a mapping activity. In this engineering instructional activity, 5th graders identify the differences between latitude and longitude and practice locating precise points on a globe or...
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Train Of States
Fourth graders create a class book with information about each of the United States. After students draw a state name out of a hat, they use various resources to fill in a facts chart about their state. Students draw the state flag and...
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Great Explorers
Students research an explorer and present a multimedia presentation on the explorer. In this United States explorers lesson, students watch a video about Lewis and Clark. Students use Google Earth to study their journey and keep a KWL...
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Flat Stanley
The geography of the United States is the focus of this lesson plan, as well as writing friendly letters. Your second graders read, "Flat Stanley," by Jeff Brown. They create their own Flat Stanley out of poster board, markers, crayons...
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Day to Day Life in a Small African Village
Learners analyze what it is like to live in an African village. They locate Tanzania on a map and compare life there to life here in the United States. They write about the health issues in East Africa.
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Geological Forces and Topography
Students discuss and research the Earth's geological processes. For this geology lesson, students study maps of Utah and the United States to learn about geological features. Students then complete the research cards for each area of...
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Discovering the Physical Geography of Washington
Pupils develop a mental map of the state of Washington and draw it on paper. Using the Virtual Atlas, they identify the physical features of the state and draw them on their map. They also examine the populations and diversity of the...
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Using Google Squared to Compare and Contrast Canada and the US
Sixth graders compare and contrast Canada and the United States. In this geography skills lesson, 6th graders use Google Squared to research information so that they may compare the geography of Canada and the United States.
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Postcards from California: A Unit on Geography, Social Studies, History and California's Resources
Fourth graders examine patterns that influence population density in the various regions of California. The unit's three lessons utilize graphic organizers for the interpretation and presentation of data.
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Welcome to New York State
Students choose one region of New York state, and create a travel brochure that includes information such as geographical features, tourist attractions, accesibility, economic features, and historical events that occured in that region.