Stability in our Ecosystems: A Closer Look at the Impacts of Preservation and Conservation - Updated 2025

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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 be able to define conservation and preservation and explain the impacts of each on their local ecosystem of choice. Our hope is to empower learners to understand the distinct impacts of conservation and preservation. 

Furthermore, students can interact with a local environment, complete a hands-on learning experience, then compare what they have learned to other environments at the regional or global scale. 

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.

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

Geography in Novel Studies - Updated 2025

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Description: Which works of literature have you shared with students that you believe had a powerful effect on their thinking on a social studies issue? The materials included here are designed to provide ideas about the ways in which geography can be used to help understand the place-specific context of elementary-level novels and works of literature.

Grade level(s): Elementary School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Taylor Woodard

Understanding Urbanization Using the North America Giant Map - Updated 2025

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Description: Students will understand the terms: urban, suburban, rural, urbanization, and megacity. Students will understand what leads people to move to urban areas and the problems this may lead to.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Angela DeLong & Kim Richter

Canada Scavenger Hunt on the North America Giant Map - Updated 2025

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Description: This activity is designed to help students identify some of Canada’s physical features, cultural areas, major cities etc. on the map.

Grade level(s): Elementary School, Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Angela DeLong & Kim Richter

Using Geography to Understand Math and Statistics in the Modern World - Updated 2025

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Description: Explore complex geographic topics and concepts such as population distribution, economic geography, and public health on an elementary level using the Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts and the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Mathematics. Students will read the book, “If the World Were 100 People” by Jackie McCann and will use statistical literacy skills to research global statistics independently or with a group to create their own book including the information they found, visual representations of the information, and illustrations.

Grade level(s): Elementary School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: J. Scott Greene & Becca Palczynsky

I’m on the Top of the World Looking Down on Creation: Using the Oklahoma Giant Map to Enhance the Geo-Inquiry Process - Updated 2025

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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! - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open as a Google Doc.

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 - Updated 2025

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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 - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open as a Google Doc.

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 - Updated 2025

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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

Using the Geo-Inquiry Process to Understand Wildland Urban Interface - Intermediate Level - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open in the Google Drive.

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): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: LeaAnn Wyrick

Exploring the Geography of Oklahoma with the State Geography Steward - Updated 2025

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Description: Join the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education, Oklahoma State University, and the State Department of Education for a session on Oklahoma's geography. Steve Stadler, Ph.D. from the Oklahoma State University Department of Geography will be discussing wind power and other sources of renewable energy as an illustration of Oklahoma's unique physical and human characteristics.

Watch the recording of the session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Steve Stadler, Ph.D.

Going Viral: Exploring the Spread of Democracy and Authoritarianism - Updated 2025

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Description: In this lesson students will analyze the rise of two government systems around the world which are considered polar opposites: democracy and authoritarianism.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Cody Sivertsen

An Exploration of the Archaeology of Jerusalem - Updated 2025

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Description: These readings are meant to supplement Dr. Rangar Cline’s discussion on his archaeological research in Jerusalem for the 2021 OKAGE workshop on the city’s significance in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Visit Dr. Cline’s website here for more information on his research.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: GFL
Produced By: Rangar Cline, Ph.D.

Jerusalem: A Center for Peace or Conflict? 2021 Update - Updated 2025

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Description: Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is considered a holy city by three religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. For centuries it has also been a spiritual center. Just like the dove, it is associated with peace and its name is even thought to be derived from the phrase “of peace.” Students will identify Jerusalem’s religious significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. They will also learn about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and explore what it is like for people on both sides of the conflict.

Watch the recording of this session here.

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

OKAGE Online Professional Development Session 6: Understanding Disasters from a Local, Regional, and Global Perspective - Updated 2025

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Description: This lesson covers disaster preparedness and recovery and how these strategies differ across local, regional, and global scales. Impacts upon disaster response as they relate to existing socioeconomic inequities along with complicating factors due to COVID-19 will also be discussed. Additionally, the issue of climate change will be explored as it relates to disaster frequency and intensity.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Heather Braucher, and Dr. Mark Shafer with the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program

OKAGE Online Professional Development Session 5: Oil, Religion, and the Global Landscape - Updated 2025

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Description: The Middle East produces about one third of the world’s oil which makes the entire world reliant on that oil and natural gas. The goal of this lesson is to use map skills to gain an understanding of the effects of abundant oil supplies in the Middle East. Using maps, students will analyze data from a geographic perspective. They will increase their understanding of conflict and cooperation among specific groups over oil and religious differences, along with the impacts of COVID-19 upon global markets. They will also identify multinational peace-keeping efforts to stabilize relationships in the Middle East.

Watch the recording of this session here.

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

Tulsa Race Massacre Session 3: Understanding the Rise of Greenwood Using the Five Themes of Geography - Updated 2025

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Description: Join the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education for a discussion on understanding the rise of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, OK using the Five Themes of Geography. The content presented in this session is for upper elementary and middle school educators. This material is aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for the Social Studies and the National Geography Standards.

Watch the recording of this session here.

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

Tulsa Race Massacre Session 2: Processing the Tulsa Race Massacre Through Literacy - Updated 2025

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Description: Join the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education and National Geographic Certified Educator, Taylor Woodard, for a session on helping students process the Tulsa Race Massacre through literacy. The content presented in this session is for upper elementary and middle school educators. This material is aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies, the Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts, and the National Geography Standards.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Taylor Woodard

Online PD Session 4: Teaching Geography Online - Updated 2025

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Description: This session will cover strategies for teaching geography online, and will be led by OKAGE Teacher Consultant and National Geographic Certified Educator Clayton Canon. The content presented will be at the middle school level, but educators of all grade levels are welcome to use this resource.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Clayton Canon