Browse lesson plans

Analyzing historical maps of North Carolina

In this lesson students will analyze historical maps and will use their knowledge of history, observation skills, and inference to draw conclusions about the events that affected the geographic development of North Carolina over time.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Loretta Wilson.

Colonial and state records of North Carolina

Lessons developed using the Colonial State Records of North Carolina collection from Documenting the American South

Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

Driving through time: The digital Blue Ridge Parkway

In these lessons and units for eighth grade, students delve into the rich primary sources and historical overlooks from the Driving Through Time project and explore the history of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Format: lesson plan (multiple pages)

Introducing the Blue Ridge Parkway

In Driving through time: The digital Blue Ridge Parkway, page 4.1

In this lesson, students will be introduced to the Blue Ridge Parkway. They will work in groups to analyze historical photographs of the Parkway in order to determine what purpose it serves and why it is such a unique landmark.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Social Studies)

By Melissa Harden.

The land of milk and honey: Relocated or not

In Colonial and state records of North Carolina, page 4

In this lesson, students read primary sources to learn about the establishment of the city of New Bern, North Carolina. The students will also use maps to draw conclusions about what was read.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 English Language Arts)

By Lara Willox.

Linking important geographic sites to world history

Students will learn the importance of geography as it relates to significant events or periods in world history, especially that which pertains to Europe and the United States.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 Social Studies)

By Guy Swanson.

Reading Blue Ridge Parkway historic maps

In Driving through time: The digital Blue Ridge Parkway, page 1.1

This lesson serves as an exploratory introduction to reading historic maps. In preparation for this lesson, teachers may want to review the North Carolina Maps resource Why use historic maps in the classroom?

Format: lesson plan

By Katy Vance.

The regions of North Carolina

In Two worlds: Educator's guide, page 1.2

In this lesson, students analyze the differences between North Carolina's geographical regions: the Mountains, the Piedmont, and the Inner and Outer Coastal Plain.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

"Where Am I?" Reading guide and activities

In Two worlds: Educator's guide, page 3.3

This lesson for grade 8 will help students to understand the article "Where Am I? Mapping a New World" through the use of a graphic organizer and a reading guide.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Resources on the web

Connecting oral history to geography: The changes of Madison County

In this lesson for eighth grade social studies, students read about the history of Madison County and listen to associated oral histories. They then draw conclusions about the changes over time in the county and relate those changes to changes in their own... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

Discovering North Carolina: A colonial map webquest

Using historical maps of North Carolina and other primary sources now published online, students complete a webquest in which they describe the colony of North Carolina for the King of England and imagine they are explorers in his employ. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

The highways or the byways: Mapping routes in North Carolina

In this lesson for seventh through ninth grade social studies and mathematics, students will use mathematical skills to choose the best routes for traveling around North Carolina. Students use internet resources for determining and plotting distance and ratio... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–9 Mathematics and Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

An introduction to reading North Carolina maps

In this lesson, students are introduced to the language of maps and why maps are important in our world. They are given the opportunity to read simple maps and find major features of more complicated maps. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–4 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

My North Carolina

Using word association and early maps of North Carolina, students will examine their preconceptions about the state and connect them to what they learn. This assignment acts as a diagnostic assessment. The benefit of using colonial maps rather than a current... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

Native Americans in North Carolina

In this lesson, students create a PowerPoint presentation describing the history and impact of one of the six major Native American tribes of North Carolina. The lesson requires them to demonstrate understanding of population movement, different perspectives,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

Population growth and movement in 19th century North Carolina

In this eighth grade social studies lesson, students compare historical maps of North Carolina from 1823 and 1892 and propose reasons for the population change evidenced by the maps. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

Reading maps for town size in North Carolina

In this lesson for second grade social studies, students analyze maps of North Carolina from 1910, 1940, and 2000. They compare the sizes of different towns on the maps and discuss how the sizes of the towns have changed over time. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

The relocation of the Cherokee in North Carolina

In this eighth grade social studies lesson, students explore the movement of the Cherokee population in North Carolina using historical maps and primary source documents. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries

Using primary documents: Analyzing North Carolina maps

In this United States history lesson, students use pre- and post-colonial maps to analyze North Carolina and how mapping of the state has changed over time. They explore the maps using online tools and to answer the historical questions of how and why a state's... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan

Provided by: UNC Libraries

Webquest: Building an historic district

In this lesson for eighth grade social studies, students use historical overlay maps to create an historic district in Oxford, North Carolina. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries