This is a two day lesson. The first day is a lesson about the history of computers. The students will look at pictures of past computers, computers of today and then discuss what they think the computers of the future will be like.The second day, the students will be looking at components of computers with several fun and exciting stations to help them learn the names of the components (parts and types) of computers such as, desktop computer, laptop computer, tablets, mouse, CPU,  printer, etc.  

In this activity, your students will learn about algorithms and use robots to practice their map skills as they explore the geographic features found in each continent!  Working in small groups students will program Root robots to “travel” to each continent.  Once there, they will be introduced to the major rivers and mountain ranges using photographs!  In other stations, students will put together a world map floor puzzle and work on their Chromebook to correctly sort landforms into their locations. 

This activity will get your students out of their seats! They will be actively engaged with their classmates to solve the puzzle as well as navigate the sphero mini robot around on the rug! This lesson will have everyone singing about the continents way after the unit is complete!

This lesson allows student teams to learn some basic coding skills, play with a robot, and learn about hardware, software, input, and output, all while learning about the major geographic features of Africa.  Students will be engaged and excited while reinforcing their learning.

Celebrate Earth Day with this lesson full of activities to show your students why we need to take care of our environment. 

Near? Far? Above? Below? Kindergartners and robots work together to discover the location of people, places, and things!

Overview of the activity:You will learn about the culture of Mexico and Spain, and take a VR QUEST virtual tour of Mexico and Spain. Then, you will be reading about and researching a Spanish-speaking country. You will collaboratively link your research into an Interactive Map, creating a single interactive class presentation document. As a culminating activity the class will be experiencing the culture of Mexico, Spain, and the countries by doing Green Screen photos in traditional clothing, and by having a food-tasting day.  

Students examine images to determine how early humans used the environment. Students use skills of observe and identify details in images and then place them in eight categories: location, migration, physical geography, shelter, settlements, food acquisition, technological advancements, and social advancements. After learning characteristics of the Neolithic and Paleolithic eras, students determine whether or not images depict life in the Paleolithic or Neolithic Era. Students are challenged to make inferences and draw conclusions supported by evidence from the images. Key questions: How did early humans use the environment to meet their basic needs? How did hunter gatherer and agricultural societies differ in their use of the land?

provides the text of out-of-print publications relating to the history of the National Parks -- how the parks were created and how they have evolved to the present day.

 This lesson will help students differentiate between physical and cultural regions as well as categorize regions as either formal, functional, or perceptual.  Students will differentiate among the three categories of regions on a Google Worksheet, and students will label a physiographic map of Virginia.   (Teachers will need to make a copy of all the Google Docs, Forms, Worksheets, etc. for themselves.)

features an area in the southwest corner of Minnesota that reflects a rich history of American Indian quarrying, prosperity brought by the railroad and mining enterprises, and a distinctive natural landscape. This National Register of Historic Places Travel itinerary highlights 30 historic places, including buildings constructed with beautiful local red stone and land still sacred to American Indians.

This Story Map Journal focuses on westward expansion of the young United States during the 1800s by using online GIS technology and Library of Congress primary sources. Students will be able to: Visually identify the large territorial acquisitions of the continental United States. Demonstrate knowledge of how each territorial acquisition occurred. Key questions: How did the rapid expansion of the United States in the 1800s shape the United States today? Where and why did the United States expand during the 1800s? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This story map develops a historical context for the Civil Rights Movement, including Jim Crow Laws, Pullman Railroad workers, Great Migration, and restrictive covenants. The second main focus of the story map is the Civil Rights Movement itself. Students explore several map tours that highlight people, events, and organizations instrumental in bringing about legislation for equal rights during the 1950s-1960s. The story map concludes with a brief exploration of current civil rights injustices in the Unites States including issues such as same-sex marriage, Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements. Key questions: How did the Civil Rights Movement change the United States? When did the Civil Rights Movement begin? Has it ended? What events characterized the Civil Rights Movement? What are the enduring influences and consequences of the Civil Rights Movement? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal examines U.S. global expansion. In the 21st century, the United States is defined as a world power for its economic and political influence. This status did not happen overnight, but was a step-by-step expansion that occurred across a century. During the 19th century the United States was motivated by Manifest Destiny to control land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. However, the leaders of the young nation were not satisfied with staying within the continent. From the Monroe Doctrine forward, the US expanded its international political and economic influence while gaining numerous territories. Students will explore this movement of global expansion through a GIS Story Map and Library of Congress primary sources. Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal has students analyzing the origins and destinations of immigrants during three main eras of U.S. immigration. Through analysis of migration flows, students will gain a better understanding of why people left their home countries when they did and consider why they settled where they did in the U.S. Finally, students will be asked to consider both history and current events to draft a plan for future U.S. immigration policy. Key questions: Where have immigrants settled in the United States and why? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.What patterns of immigration and settlement are noticeable throughout history? How have Americans viewed immigrants over time? What push and pull factors have influenced migration to and within the U.S.? What should the U.S. do concerning immigration in the future?

This Story Map Journal has students exploring the causes, course, and results of the direct conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They will analyze documents, videos, photographs, drawings, and maps to understand the conflict, competition, compromises, and reactions of this worldwide event in an attempt to argue who is at fault and if the Cold War is even over. Major question: where and how did the United States and the Soviet Union find themselves in direct conflict in the years following World War II? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

The Progressive era is typically taught as through the lens that people shaped their world in response to the societal problems that came along with the eras of industrialization, urbanization and mass immigration to the United States.  This lesson is taught through the lens that geography also shaped reform.  Impacts of geography include the growth of Chicago due to its relative location as an intermediary between cattle drives and east coast cities, labor reform including building safety and the geography of buildings and fire exits, and conservative efforts such as the National Parks.  This lesson is not meant to teach the entirety of the Progressive era, but a few specific points that were impacted by geography. Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

Allows visitors to journey through time and see the development of public archeology in the U.S. Along this timeline, which extends from 1784 to the current decade, visitors can see how public archeology has changed and discover the key events that shaped public archeology in this country.

 This lesson will allow students to analyze the physical and ecological processes which shape the Earth’s surface including the nature and location of weather phenomena and what causes the seasons and climate.  Students will also use a decision-making model.  Teachers will need to make copies of all the Google forms and documents.

Demonstrate how to draw a landscape outline using foreground, middle ground and background.  Tell the students that they will need to choose two different VA landscapes to draw including details and color.Draw an outline in pencil of the first regional landscape of your choice.Discuss colored pencil techniques.  When coloring in your drawings, use several different colors and shades of a color as well as how to vary the pressure on your pencil to add depth to your drawing. Have students pass out supplies.Students write what two regions of their choice on the back of their first landscape drawing.  Students work independently on their first landscape.