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 5.04

Identify the absolute and relative location of communities.

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

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
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
How do you like a crowd?
Students consider what it's like to be in heavily and sparsely populated places. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
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
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
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
Moving 1,000 miles
This ARTSEDGE lesson uses the book Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It) Going to Move to explore the unique aspects of cities. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: 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)
Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities
Over the river and through the woods: Traveling by memory
This lesson introduces the concept of mental maps and their development. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Pacific salmon
Students learn about pacific salmon, including the salmon migration route and the fact that salmon are able to return to the streams where they were born after spending years swimming in the ocean. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Science and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
A pirate's life
Students explore websites to examine pirate characteristics and lifestyles. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
Using maps to see regions
Students will use basic observation, data collecting, and mapmaking skills to explore their school grounds and create regional maps. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
What's your favorite place?
Students think of their favorite place or a place they find particularly interesting. They then draw pictures of that place and share information about it with a partner. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
What's your territory?
Introduces international territorial defense through considering how students, their pets, and their parents define and defend their personal spaces or territory. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Information Skills and Social Studies)
Provider: National Geographic
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)
Provider: National Geographic