Geo-Inquiry

Refugee Resettlement in Oklahoma

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Description: Students will analyze and interpret geographic data, engage in critical thinking, and develop a deeper understanding of the social, economic, and environmental aspects of refugee resettlement in Oklahoma.

Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Cory Williams & Grace Gierach

Exploring Careers in Public Service

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Description: Through this lesson and associated exercises, students will research specific public service careers to explore the role they play in their communities and governments, the benefits of working in public service, and how to pursue these careers.

Grade level(s): Upper Elementary, Middle, High
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Grace Gierach

Exploring Waste Management Careers

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Description: In this lesson, students will learn about waste management and recycling and will research types of careers in this field. These include jobs in collection, distribution, manufacturing, research and development, maintenance, and sales. Students will examine real job postings online and reflect on the job duties along with the required skills, experience, and education.

Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Allison Taylor-Kniffen

Investigating Pollution and Establishing Environmental Stewardship

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Description: Embedded within the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies is an opportunity to engage students in real-world problem solving. In this lesson, students will utilize this opportunity by applying the Geo-Inquiry process to investigate the impact of trash pollution on their campus or another selected site. In follow-up activities, students will explore the meaning of environmental stewardship through recycling practices and career exploration. Any part of this lesson can be adapted to best fit students’ needs and this activity includes cross-curricular opportunities which meet standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.

Grade level(s): Middle, High
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Allison Taylor-Kniffen

Exploring Conservation Careers in Oklahoma

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file.

Description: In this lesson, students will explore conservation careers, particularly those available in Oklahoma. Students will identify potential careers of interest, research the education and experience requirements, and will learn how to compose a resumé and cover letter.

Grade level(s): Middle, High
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Teresa Potter

What's on the Menu? Exploring Predator-Prey Relationships in Oklahoma

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Description: In this lesson, students will explore Oklahoma’s wildlife, their predator-prey relationships, and how they can be impacted by human activities.

Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Teresa Potter

Using Giant Floor Maps to Understand Bald Eagle Populations

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Description: In this lesson, students will use the Oklahoma or North America Giant Floor Map to explore where bald eagles can be found, what the requirements are for a healthy habitat, and how their habitats are affected by human activity.

Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Becca Palczynsky

Leave No Trace

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Description: This lesson is designed to introduce students to best practices for visiting city, state, and national parks. Students will learn how to enjoy and appreciate parks and other public lands while respecting other visitors, the land, and wildlife.

Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Becca Palczynsky

Using the Oklahoma Floor Map to Explore Public Lands

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Description: This lesson is designed to introduce students to different types of public lands in Oklahoma. These include National Recreation Areas, Wildlife Refuges, and State Parks. Students will learn where these parks are located, why they are established, and the activities they can do while there.

Grade level(s): Elementary
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Becca Palczynsky

Using the Asia Giant Map to Understand Light Pollution

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Description: This lesson is designed to use the Giant Traveling Map of Asia to help students contextualize effects of light pollution in current events and upon migratory birds. These lesson materials are developed in support of OKAGE’s Geo-Inquiry project efforts.

Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Grace Gierach

Half the Park is After Dark: Exploring Dark Sky Parks Around the World

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Description: This lesson is designed as a template for a project focused on exploring dark sky parks in America and around the world. This lesson may be used to enrich instruction in a variety of subjects including Science, Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Social  Studies. The content presented in this lesson was selected as an illustrative example of how all subjects are used to understand a particular issue that impacts communities differently around the world and in Oklahoma.

Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Tristan Lloyd

Designing and Siting a Pollinator Garden

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Description: This lesson was created as a template to design and site a pollinator garden and provide examples of how a pollinator garden may be used to enrich instruction in a variety of subjects including Science, Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Social  Studies. The content presented in this lesson was selected as an illustrative example of  how all subjects are used to understand a particular issue which impacts communities  differently around the world and in Oklahoma. These lesson materials were developed  in support of OKAGE’s Geo-Inquiry project efforts.

Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Tristan Lloyd

Using the Oklahoma Giant Map to Understand the Heavy Consequences of Light Pollution

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Description: This lesson is designed as a template to introduce the Giant Traveling Map of Oklahoma and provide examples of how this map may be used to enrich instruction in a variety of subjects including Science, Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Social Studies. The content presented in this lesson was selected as an illustrative example of how all subjects are used to understand a particular issue which impacts communities differently around the world and in Oklahoma. These lesson materials were developed in support of OKAGE’s Geo-Inquiry project efforts. To sign up to participate in a dark sky Geo-Inquiry project with OKAGE, visit http://okageweb.org/event-registration-1 or contact us at okage@ou.edu.

Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Becca Palczynsky

How has COVID-19 Impacted National Parks in the United States?

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Description: Students will investigate the impacts COVID-19 has had upon public lands with a particular focus on national parks in the United States. In order to examine these impacts, students will collect data on COVID-19 cases and national park visitation around the US. The Giant Map of North America will be used to illustrate how national park visitation has changed in specific locations since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and how this has influenced current park management practices and policies.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Naomi Mayer

Using the Geo-Inquiry Process to Explore and Understand Black Mesa State Park

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Description: For this lesson students will look at how COVID-19 has affected Black Mesa State Park. They will then learn how to use the National Geographic Geo-Inquiry process to explore the issues related to Black Mesa through a geographic lens. The students will then develop their own Geo-Inquiry questions so they can research how COVID-19 has affected this state park. After they have gathered this information they will then go to Black Mesa State Park and meet with the Park Manager so students may ask the questions that they have formulated and for the Park Manager to show the students the physical effects that COVID-19 has had on Black Mesa State Park due to the influx of visitors. Upon completion of the in-class and field research components, students will present their findings to classmates and/or publicize their results to be accessed by stakeholders.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Naomi Mayer

I’m on the Top of the World Looking Down on Creation: Using the Oklahoma Giant Map to Enhance the Geo-Inquiry Process

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Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Description: The class will examine the Tulsa Race Massacre and develop a relevant Geo-Inquiry question together which is centered around the impacts of this historical event. The Geo-Inquiry process leads students to think through complexities of the world and make connections that empower them to change their communities. After a question is developed, students will be divided into teams in order to create a division of tasks - e.g., -Data Collection, Visualization, Story-Telling, etc.

Watch the student video here, and watch the teacher video here!

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Zena Lewis

Lights, Camera, Action!

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Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Description: The class will examine the Tulsa Race Massacre and develop a relevant Geo-Inquiry question together which is centered around the impacts of this historical event. The Geo-Inquiry process leads students to think through complexities of the world and make connections that empower them to change their communities. After a question is developed, students will be divided into teams in order to create a division of tasks - e.g., -Data Collection, Visualization, Story-Telling, etc.

Watch the student video here, and watch the teacher video here!

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Zena Lewis

Mapping STEM in Oklahoma - Giant Map Edition

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Description: The purpose of this lesson is to allow students to explore the connection between Geography and other curriculum areas by utilizing the OKAGE Giant Map Program. Students will identify key geographic features and landmarks on the Giant Map then make connections between these features and other curriculum areas. 

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Amber DeWinter

Wichita Mountains Geo-Inquiry Project: A Closer Look at the Impacts of Preservation and Conservation

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Description: This unit is designed to allow students to take a closer look at a local ecosystem and compare and contrast the benefits of preservation and conservation. Students will develop their own preservation and/or conservation plan for this local ecosystem while focusing on the ecological, economic, and political impact of this plan. Our hope is to empower learners to understand how government policy can drive both positive and negative outcomes. Furthermore, students can interact with a local environment, complete a hands-on learning experience, then compare what they learned to other environments at the regional or global scale.

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Amber DeWinter

Using the Geo-Inquiry Process to Understand Wildland Urban Interface - Advanced Level

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Description: Students will utilize the Geo-Inquiry process to understand the meaning, causes, effects, economic impacts, and environmental consequences of the Hochatown Wildland Urban Interface.

Grade level(s): High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: LeaAnn Wyrick