Water, Water, Everywhere
Students will watch a movie clip or view an image of the earth and draw pictures of other ways that water is used by people and explore different kinds of natural resources.

Exploring Physical and Human Characteristics of Earth Spaces
Students will travel around the world on a visual scavenger hunt. They will select a handful of important natural and cultural characteristics of places.

The Earth's Changing Surface  during this unit, students will identify the various landforms found on the earth's surface.  also, students will describe how these landforms are created and changed by the natural forces within the earth and on its surface, as well as the unnatural impact of humans.  finally, students will create a slide presentation to display this information.

A River Runs Through It
Scroll down to History and Geography for this lesson link.  This unit will take students around the world to visit rivers on six continents.  Students will complete project-based activities based on a theme:  The geographical location of the river effects the society that develops around it.  Students will learn about people, plants, animals, uses and problems unique to a river on each continent.

Climate Controls  This lesson has students consider how various parts of the world and the United States are affected by climate controls such as world air currents. They will read about climate controls and will create maps showing how these controls affect the climate in various places around the country.

Contour Maps With DOGSTAILS   During this lesson your students will craft miniature mountains from lumps of clay. They will then translate their mountains into topographic maps.

Types of Landforms You can learn more about types of land when you click on them in the map below.

LANDFORM AND WATER BODY RESEARCH CLICK ON A LANDFORM OR WATER BODY TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND SEE AN EXAMPLE

Landscapes This site explores the Landscapes of Scotland and develops Map Skills.

Landforms #1:  Take a ride in a "traveling machine" to learn about the form and function of landforms. Appreciate the beauty and utility of the world's natural features, and see how communities are made unique by the landforms around them. Highlights oceans, rivers, streams, mountains, hills, plains, valleys, plateaus, deserts, islands, and more!  United Streaming.

Geologist's Notebook: Why Land Goes Up and Down:  Land around us is rarely flat. As it stretches across mountains, valleys, canyons, plateaus, and other landforms it goes up and down, up and down.  United Streaming.

Physical Geography:  "Physical Geography" examines the Earth's oceans and fresh water sources, the major continents and basic landforms, and the changes that are constantly occurring to the Earth's surface.  United Streaming.

American Geography Close-Ups: Maps, Regions, Resources, and Climate:  Discover how the landforms, waterways, farms, natural resources, and people of each region differ - and the trends that are causing the regions to become more alike.  United Streaming.

The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top:  Ms. Frizzle presents the kids with the missing piece to their gigantic Earth puzzle--an island that hasn't been discovered yet.  United Streaming.

This Is Our World:  This introduction to Earth identifies the seven continents and the four oceans. By comparing Earth to a map and a globe, students examine the placement of the equator and poles.  United Streaming.

A Closer Look At Earth: Space Science Series:  From above and below the surface, students take a closer look at what makes the third planet from the sun so special. They learn to read clues to earth's history in eras, plates, and core structures. They witness the forces that constantly change the surface features, like weathering, erosion, and volcanic activity.  United Streaming.

Suggestions for English Language Learners: 
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding)

(E/B) Students draw and label physical features of their community, region or continent.
(E/B) Students describe physical features of their community, region or continent.
(E/B) Students locate reference points on world maps or globes from oral commands.
(E/B) Students identify features of the earth on local or world maps based on oral statements (mountains, oceans).
(D) Students compare/contrast physical features of their continent with another one.
(D, E) Students distinguish among geographic locations on local or regional maps based on oral descriptions that include directionality.
(E) Students describe physical features of North America in relation to the world.

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