Browse lesson plans

Story map: The gingerbread manhunt

The purpose of this lesson is to present a fun, memorable way for students to learn where the secretary, principal, nurse, janitor, cafeteria, playground, and other grade levels are located while matching a face and job with each of these locations and its importance to the functioning of the school.

Format: lesson plan (grade K Social Studies)

By Tina Baker.

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.

Tour the United States

Students will combine classroom, library time, and computer lab time to research and construct knowledge about 49 U.S. states. (Students will not research their home state.) Students will use their new research knowledge and the resources provided to construct a presentation on their assigned state using PowerPoint or some other presentation program.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Information Skills and Social Studies)

By Karl Schaefer.

Using primary documents: Analyzing North Carolina maps

In North Carolina maps, page 3.5

In this lesson, students use pre- and post-colonial maps to analyze North Carolina and how mapping of the state has changed over time. They use these maps to answer the historical question of how and why a state's perspective may change.

Format: lesson plan

By Jennifer Job.

Vietnam waterways: Ecology and conservation

In this interdisciplinary lesson for grades 6-8, students will examine the relationship between the physical environment and cultural characteristics of the Mekong River valley in Vietnam. Students will evaluate the current conditions of the Mekong River and suggest long-range solutions for improving, restoring, or preserving the quality of the river.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Information Skills, Science, and Social Studies)

By Edie McDowell.

Webquest: Building an historic district

In North Carolina maps, page 2.3

In this lessons, students complete a webquest that includes having them view and analyze maps to recreate a historic district in North Carolina. Throughout this process, students think about how towns change over time and how technology impacts the way we live.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Jennifer Job.

Webquest: The journeys and journals of John Lederer

In North Carolina maps, page 3.4

In this lesson, students complete a webquest in which they study maps in relation to primary source texts to glean insights into the discovery of Western North Carolina.

Format: lesson plan (grade 11–12 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Jennifer Job.

What in the world does this have to do with maps and globes?

This lesson focuses on the similarities and differences between a globe and a flat world map. It introduces critical vocabulary relating to cardinal directions and longitude and latitude.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 English Language Development and Social Studies)

By Phebe Watson and Sylvia Easterling.

"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.

Where in North Carolina is... ? Teaching latitude and longitude

In North Carolina maps, page 1.5

In this lesson, students will learn about the concepts of latitude and longitude by locating the birthplaces of famous people from North Carolina and describing the location in absolute terms.

Format: lesson plan

By Jennifer Job.

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

The Adventures of Amelia the Pigeon

An animated adventure story with multimedia components to engage the K-4 audience and illustrate Earth science concepts. There is also a text-only version of this children's book available on the site. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics

Africans in America

Chronicles the history of racial slavery in the United States using historical documents and interactive maps to accompany in-depth articles (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: PBS

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

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

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

Library of Congress

Offers many of its collections in a digital format and continues to add materials to makes its resources available to the people of the United States. Collections include American historical primary resources, legislative information, educator materials, world... (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: Library of Congress

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