LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Goal 5

The learner will express geographic concepts in real life situations.

Objective 5.02

Investigate key features of maps.

Resources aligned to this objective

Integrating the internet into the curriculum: Jan Brett author study
Jan Brett's books will be used to integrate technology into different areas of the curriculum. The seven activities will each take about 30 minutes depending on the class. The highlight of the author study will be the design of a class multimedia presentation.
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Computer/Technology Skills, English Language Arts, Information Skills, and Social Studies)
By Barb Thorson.

Resources on the web

Xpeditions express: City scavenger hunt
Students take a virtual trip on National Geographic's Xpeditions Express through Europe to the cities of London, Paris, Innsbruck, Venice, Budapest, and Istanbul. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
World view: National anthems around the world
Students visit the World Viewer exhibit in National Geographic's Xpedition Hall and explore the different geographic information about countries around the globe. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Music Education and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Wildebeest migration
Students will make maps of the wildebeest migration route in eastern Africa. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Whooping cranes and their human friends
Students will learn about endangered whooping cranes and trace their migration route in the United States. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
What are manatees?
Students learn about manatees' behavioral characteristics and how manatees in captivity interact with people. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
A vacation to the polar regions
Students learn about the characteristics of the Arctic and Antarctic by looking at a globe and at pictures of the polar landscape and animals. They'll plan a vacation to one of these regions and draw pictures or write stories depicting themselves on the trip. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Information Skills and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
To build an island
Students gain a basic overview of the geography of islands. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Taking care of our oceans
Students consider why so many people live near the coast and learn about the impacts of this trend on ocean animals. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Science and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Submarines: The classroom fleet
Students will study the submarine and the challenges humans face when traveling underwater. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Sing me a song about the USA
Students create a song that relates to a specific geographic area of the United States. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–4 Music Education and Social Studies)
Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Pioneer America: Journey west
Students learn about the early pioneers in America and their motivations for moving West. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–3 Social Studies)
Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Native American cultures across the U.S.
Students discuss the differences between five Native American tribes within the U.S. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities
Modeling Shadows
Students observe the daytime and nighttime sky regularly to identify sequences of changes and to look for patterns in these changes. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Mission geography: Continents
In this Xpeditions lesson, students identify characteristics of the physical geography of each continent of the world. Students start by identifying each of the continents and reassembling continental maps. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
The Middle East region: Flags and facts
Students will learn basic facts about the Middle East by exploring maps of the region. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Marco Polo takes a trip
Students learn about the travels of Venetian adventurer Marco Polo. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics and Social Studies)
Provided by: National Endowment for the Humanities
Mapping what matters
In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the idea that everyone has mental maps they use to store and recover information. Students come to realize that certain places on these maps are more important to us than others. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Social Studies)
Provided by: National Geographic
Mail time! An integrated postcard and geography study
In this lesson from ReadWriteThink, students write to friends and family asking them to send picture postcards. This activity provides motivation for writing and reading and provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about maps as students discover where... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Learning about maps and colors
Students develop basic geography skills by reading neighborhood maps. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1 Visual Arts Education and Social Studies)
Provided by: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts