Browse lesson plans

Building map-reading skills

In Map skills and higher-order thinking, page 5

Now that we know what students can't do, how do we help them develop the skills to read and interpret maps successfully? You may not be surprised to learn that most of the research and literature on this topic stops short of offering actual suggestions....

Format: activity/lesson plan (grade )

By David Walbert.

Couriers and messengers: Real-world problem solving

In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 3.4

In this lesson plan, students take on the role of couriers and use indirect measurement to plan a delivery.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7–8 Mathematics)

By Valerie Davis, Sonya Rexrode, and Monika Vasili.

Kindergarten walk

This is an introductory lesson in a series of lessons on our community and community helpers. Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins will be used as the pattern to plan our own walk around our school playground. Students will then create a simple map of our school playground.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Mathematics and Social Studies)

By Michelle Hensley.

Scale drawings

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 2.7

In this lesson for grade seven, students will use maps to measure the distances between cities in North Carolina. Students will write equations using the maps' scales to calculate the actual distances in miles.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Mathematics)

By Peggy Dickey and Barbara Turner.Adapted by Sharon Abell.

Topographic maps

In Map skills and higher-order thinking, page 11

Topographic maps add a third dimension to latitude and longitude by showing natural (and cultural) features of the earth's surface -- in particular, elevation. Historically, mapmakers used a variety of methods to indicate elevation. To get a quick...

Format: activity/lesson plan

By David Walbert.

Zoo integrated unit

The unit uses the North Carolina Zoological Park as a teaching tool rather than as a nice place to visit. It can be used by a single teacher or multiple teachers of different subjects, and it is aimed at 7th and 8th graders.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies)

By Craig Smith.

Resources on the web

Handy map

This lesson, one of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “Going Places: Measuring and Mapping,” engages students in creating a map of their hands. It provides purpose for using directional or positional words with mapping. The teacher draws... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K Mathematics and Social Studies)

Provided by: Illuminations

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

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

Off the scale

Students use real-world examples to solve problems involving scale as they examine maps of their home states and calculate distances between cities. Illuminations provides an activity sheet, links to web resources that contain state maps, and detailed instructions... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations