LEARN NC

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

Goal 5

The learner will understand the relationship between people and geography in various communities.

Objective 5.03

Compare and contrast the physical features of communities and regions.

Resources aligned to this objective

Geography centers
A geography unit in which students investigate and compare their hometowns and other cities. The unit incorporates nine centers: math, science, social studies, reading, writing, computers, puzzles and games, art, and listening. They all have activities that are integrated with the geography unit.
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, Visual Arts Education, Social Studies, Mathematics, Computer Technology Skills, and Science)
By Laurie Perry.

Lesson plans on the web

Arctic terns from north to south
Students map the arctic tern's migration route and consider why it migrates so far. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Science and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Beautiful Blue Nile
Students learn about the Blue Nile and compare it to a river in the United States. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Caribou migration
Students will learn some basic facts about caribou and map the migration route of the Porcupine caribou herd of Alaska and northwestern Canada. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Science and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Designing a native plants garden
Students compare native vegetation in different parts of the United States. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies and Science)
Provider: National Geographic
Explore your state with maps
In this Xpeditions lesson, students create maps of their state using information from National Geographic's MapMachine. They then make their own maps from memory after studying the original maps they created. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Exploring physical and human characteristics of earth's spaces
Students travel around the world on a visual scavenger hunt. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Geography skills and your town
In this Xpeditions lesson, students relate the five themes of geography (location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and regions) to their own home town. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
The great migration
Students learn about the migration of African Americans to Harlem, beginning with the original migration of blacks to North America. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–3 Social Studies)
Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Immigrating to America
Students learn about what it was like for new immigrants to come through Ellis Island at the turn of the century. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–4 Social Studies)
Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The land of the Inca
Students learn basic facts about the Inca and show where they lived on a map. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Life in the mountains
Students are introduced to the idea that people in different parts of the world have different customs and habits of daily life, even if they live in similar landscapes. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Life on the rivers of Asia
In this Xpeditions lesson, students examine the influence of rivers on the populations of Asia. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies and English Language Arts)
Provider: 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 Social Studies and Mathematics)
Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities
Mars mobiles
Students compare the landscapes of Mars and Earth and create mobiles showcasing some of the features of the Martian landscape. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provider: 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)
Provider: National Geographic
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)
Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities
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)
Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Symbols and overlays
Students choose a state and create a multi-leveled map booklet. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–3 Social Studies)
Provider: The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
To build an island
Students gain a basic overview of the geography of islands. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic