Free Lessons: Intermediate-level

Objectives: Learn and apply four key geographic ideas using an atlas.

Materials: A middle school or intermediate atlas of the United States, such as The Nystrom Junior Geographer Atlas.

In an atlas you'll see political maps, physical maps, and historical maps. You'll see maps of rainfall and of land use. And you'll see pictures of people and places.

How do all these fit together? Geography helps you see your links with people and places across the country and around the world. Four key ideas will help you see these geographical links.

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Materials: Markable globe, water-soluble-ink marker, pencil

Objective: Students use compass directions, latitude, and longitude to trace a famous voyage.

Latitude numbers are given with N or S for north or south. Longitude numbers are given with E or W for east or west.

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Materials: Markable world desk map, water-soluble-ink marker, pencil

Objectives:

1. Locate the probable route of the first people to inhabit the Americas.
2. Identify Christopher Columbus and Leif Ericson as authentic European explorers of North America.
3. Identify Saint Brendan and Prince Madoc as legendary or mythic explorers.
4. Recognize that many stories regarding early exploration and settlement are difficult to confirm.

Click here to see the questions on a separate, printable page.

Click here for the lesson notes and answers.