Create relevant learning experiences for students with hands-on geography lessons that align with current social studies curricula and student interests. Geography doesn’t have to just be about the globe. Combining map skills with interesting and current cultural topics is a great way to introduce beginning activities that align with students’ interests.
Physical Maps: Canada Grade 4
Give your fourth graders a taste of world travel with this physical map unit! The unit features a physical map of Canada (which identifies major landforms, waterways, etc.), vocabulary, comprehension questions, and activities for five days of the week.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers in our Daily Geography Bundle grade 4 for weeks 13–18 here.
Physical Maps: Mexico Grade 5
This fifth grade unit features Mexico as its physical map subject. The unit displays the physical map of Mexico and provides advanced vocabulary, activities, and questions to test your students’ comprehension of physical maps. This unit introduces the physical and human characteristics of a country or landscape.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
Physical Maps: Australia Grade 6
More complicated map structures, such as a legend and compass rose, are introduced in the sixth grade unit. These new features, in addition to corresponding vocabulary, activities, and comprehension questions, make reading maps fun and engaging for students. Students will practice the skill of map basics and using points, colors, or lines to identify different geographical areas.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
History Maps: The Thirteen Original Colonies Grade 4
This new type of map helps fourth graders learn the valuable skill of using maps to interpret history. This unit features a history map of the 13 colonies in the 1600s, basic vocabulary, fun facts, and other questions and activities that engage your fourth graders in reading and understanding history maps.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
History Maps: The United States in 1861 Grade 5
Students can tackle this history map, featuring the United States at the beginning of the Civil War, and practice their map interpretation skills. This fifth grade unit includes facts about the different regions of the U.S. at the time, vocabulary, and questions and activities for the week.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
History Maps: Ancient Greece Grade 6
Using this unit’s map of Ancient Greece, sixth graders will need to acquire, organize, and analyze information to draw conclusions about Greek history. The unit provides students with the map of Ancient Greece, which identifies major cities and seas, as well as vocabulary, activities, and questions for the whole week.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
Cultural Maps: Major League Baseball (MLB) Grade 4
Cultural map units feature characteristics of a specific cultural mosaic; in this case, the map shows the locations of all 30 of the Major League Baseball teams in the United States and Canada. Fourth graders will love engaging with this different type of map activity, learning basic vocabulary, identifying major cities and their respective teams, and answering comprehension questions.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
Cultural Maps: National Football League (NFL) Grade 5
This cultural map unit for fifth graders has students practice identifying and understanding patterns of demographic and political change. This map shows the locations of the 32 NFL teams in the United States; students will receive helpful vocabulary and facts before answering questions based on the map.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
Cultural Maps: National Basketball Association (NBA) Grade 6
Sixth graders will excel in their ability to identify regions, read cultural maps, and understand patterns of cultural change in this unit. Using a map of the United States and parts of Canada, students will identify geographical regions and their representative NBA teams, answer questions using the map, and challenge themselves to “create their own” NBA team and place it on the map.
Find this activity on Teachers Pay Teachers in our Daily Geography Bundle grade 6 for weeks 25–30 here.
Evan-Moor’s Daily Geography Practice provides a well-rounded overview of basic geography skills like map reading, identifying coordinates on a map or globe, and using a legend or compass with a map.
These skills become important in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. Luckily, geography practice can be fun and engaging for students by incorporating sports, history, or other subjects into mini-lessons that introduce vital skills to students.
Encourage your students to interact with maps and globes in their daily life by drawing treasure maps, spinning a globe to find new countries, and navigating in the car.
Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.