Students examine topographic maps and discover how to decipher contour intervals, use contour lines and apply information to complete a topographic map lab. Working in groups, they identify the scale of the map, latitude and longitude,...

Middle schoolers identify trees based from their leaves. In this leaf lesson plan, students use The Rocky Mountain Tree Finder by Tom Watts in order to identify tree leaves. They look for leaf shapes, veins, and structure.

Students research landforms created by tectonic movement.  In this landforms lessons, students discuss caves, canyons, mountains, valleys, and undersea vents and the ecosystems unique to these environments.

Students imagine themselves someplace -- the beach, a mountain top, a city street -- anywhere.

Second graders demonstrate their ability to find the five oceans on a globe and on a world map and relate their knowledge of mountains and other physical characteristics of land masses to the physical characteristics of the ocean floor.

Learners work together to research and create different types of maps of the United States to be used as part of a geography trivia game.Groups research North American annual rainfall, climate, mountain ranges major rivers and state...

Students pretend they are hiking up a mountain. They practice making calculations on angles and elevation. They use topographic maps to estimate distances and trigonometric ratio methods.

Students build a model representing a snow-covered mountain out of flour, sugar, and potato flakes. Then they use the model to recreate an avalanche.

Students plan a route across Donner Summit using topographical maps in order to understand the challenges involved in constructing the railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this history lesson, students first discover how to read...

Young scholars practice locating positions on the world map. In this map skills lesson, students explore the world map and items such as the compass rose, Equator, mountains, cities, etc. The young scholars practice locating positions on...

Students demonstrate comprehension skills be retelling 6-8 significant events. They identify new vocabulary words and determine the meaning by using context clues. They contribute to group discussion by sharing at least 1 idea/reflection...

Students research the innovative technology used in building the Allegheny Portage Railroad, and how it was applied to other projects. They discuss technological change and the effect it has on their lives.

Learners explore and compare and contrast the four main regions of California: mountains, coast, central valley, and desert. students use pictures and research to describe how regions vary in land use, vegetation, wildlife and climate.

Students role-play as soldiers rescuing lost mountain climbers. Working in teams, they interpret maps to locate the climbers and use flashlights to send and receive coded messages about the rescue. Their goal is to complete the task in...

Young scholars examine the use of the Hindu Kush mountains by explorers and traders. Using Afghanistan as an example, they research how different events can effect human settlerment patterns. They discuss how the physical...

Students stud the concept of Pangaea by using Wegener's clues to construct a map of the continents joined together. They determine how fossil distribution can be used to enhance the study of continental drift. They locate the...

High schoolers practice reading a national and local weather map. Using this information, they work together to make predictions about the weather for the next few days. They discuss the use of symbols and maps as a class and discuss...

In this mystery state worksheet, learners answer five clues to identify the state in question. They then locate that state on a map.

Students investigate the concept of erosion by water in a problem solving activity. In small groups, they are assigned either sand, potting soil or rocks to construct a mountain that will hold up to a sprinkler can of water dripping on...

Fourth graders draw a rudimentary map of the state of Utah, dividing it into the three regions: the Great Basin, the Colorado Plateau, and the Rocky Mountain Region.

Students read a short article about the mountains and skiing in Slovakia. In this ESL lesson, students explore the reasons that skiing is a popular activity in Slovakia, then complete several short activities to reinforce the reading.

Fourth graders create salt maps of a state and indicate its regions. They include topographical elements including mountains, valleys, lowlands and major water bodies and a compass rose.

Students discuss mountains and arrange a list of highest peaks into correct order. They read a news article about a climber rescued from Nanga Parbat. Working in groups they create a list of items needed for a mountain climbing trip.

Students discuss, evaluate, and analyze hot, warm, and cool colors using two Thomas Moran paintings as examples in this Art lesson for K-3rd grade classrooms. The two paintings suggested are "Rock Towers of the Rio Virgin" and "Mountain...