Here are our Lesson Plans For Geography and History
These lessons were made to go along with ‘On The Banks Of Plum Creek‘ written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. We are planning to go through the whole series and I am keeping track of the different topics we are learning about here on my blog. We hope you enjoy these as much as we have!
On weeks where there are several activities listed just choose a couple that interest you the most to work on.
We will also be using this People Long Ago Resource Box from Lakeshore Learning to go with our lessons.
There are also some other resources available here:
- All About Landforms Lesson Plan
- Map Skills Book
- Map and Key Lesson and Materials
- Maps and Globes Lesson Plans
Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter simply push the ‘ctrl’ and the ‘F’ button down together and a small bar will pop up. Type in the week number or chapter number you want and it will take you to it.
We also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States.
Memorize the Continents and Oceans using the videos below to help:
Week 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
1. State Study
- Print out this map HERE or this one HERE. You can color in the states as you learn them and track Laura’s journeys.
- This week we will study Minnesota.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
- Mark the route that the family may have taken on your map.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Globes Worksheet
- Finding Places on a Globe Worksheet
- Can you find where you are?
- Where are your ancestors from?
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
You can print out a lapbook HERE.
- Plateaus (tableland p.22)
- Valleys
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Research Dugout homes
- Discuss what you have learned.
- What are the pros and cons of a dugout home?
- Compare this to your home. Make a Venn Diagram to compare/contrast the two.
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 2: Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12
1. State Study
- This week we will study Louisiana.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Look at a map of where you live.
- Can you name your city? State? Country
- What are Maps Worksheet
- Writing Your Address Worksheet
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
- Rivers
- Mountains
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 3: Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18
1. State Study
- This week we will study Illinois.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Find the Parts of a Map Worksheet
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
- Hills
- Canyons
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 4: Chapters 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23
1. State Study
- This week we will study Virginia.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Look at a map of where you live.
- What symbols do you see?
- Can you find the capital of your state?
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
- Waterfalls
- Deltas
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
Week 5: Chapters 24, 25, 26, 27 & 28
1. State Study
- This week we will study Kentucky.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Map Symbols Worksheet
- Map Legends Worksheet
- What should you do if you don’t know what the symbols on a map mean?
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
- Caves
- Cliffs
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 6: Chapters 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 & 34
1. State Study
- This week we will study Wyoming.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Cardinal Directions Worksheet
- Compass Rose Worksheet
- What is a compass rose used for?
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
- Buttes and Mesas
- Volcanoes
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 7: Chapters 35, 36, 37 & 38
1. State Study
- This week we will study Nevada .
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Try using the skills you have learned to read a map:
- Map Skills Worksheet
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
- Ponds & Lakes
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 8: Chapters 39, 40 & 41
1. State Study
- This week we will study Connecticut.
- Complete your notebooking pages.
- Older kids can write a report about the state.
2. Landforms & Mapping
Maps:
Did you know that there are different types of maps?
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Review your past lessons.
- Finding a Spot on a Map Worksheet
- Do one activity from:
Landforms:
- Dunes
- Oasis
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Work on your lapbook.
- Read 4-5 pages from Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Try one of these quizzes
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
Week 9: Finishing Up
1. State Study
- Review the states we learned about and choose a state to research more.
- Write a report about your favorite state or add some new facts to your previous report.
2. Landforms and Mapping
Maps:
Did you know that there are different types of maps? (continued)
Landforms:
- Finish up your lapbook making sure to learn about any topics not already covered.
- Finish reading Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary
- Write a report about your favorite landform.
- Take these quizzes: Be sure to print out the results.
- Discuss what you have learned.
- Do one activity from each of the following:
3. Bonus
Extra:
- Play Oregon Trail Game
- Social Studies Quiz Game Show
- Play GeoBingo USA Educational Geography Board Game
**BE SURE TO SAVE A FEW SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO! TAKE PICTURES OF BIG PROJECTS!
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–Thank you!
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