The Global Homeless: An Overview of the International Refugee Crisis

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Description: The objective of the lesson is to introduce students to the concept of a refugee, as opposed to economic migrants, including an analysis of the primary causes of forced migration and the three basic responses to refugee crises around the world. Students will compare an historical example of forced migration, resulting in the refugee status of one of Oklahoma’s tribal people to the status of contemporary examples of refugees in both the western and eastern hemisphere. Students are encouraged to demonstrate their own independent inquiries into the international refugee crises through the creation of a Thinglink digital product, which can be shared online with fellow students.

Grade level(s): Middle School Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Pam Merrill

Who? What? Where? Oklahomans Who Made a Difference

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Description: In this lesson, students will use the Oklahoma Giant Traveling Map to identify and gain a better understanding of notable historic and present day Oklahomans who made significant contributions to the state.

Grade level(s): Elementary (Adaptable to 8th & 10th grade American History)
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Lynn Tilley

It Happened in Oklahoma! Historically Significant State and Local Landmarks

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Description: In this lesson, students will use the Oklahoma Giant Traveling Map to identify and locate important state and local landmarks, as well as gain a better understanding of their historical significance.

Grade level(s): Elementary (Adaptable to 8th & 10th grade American History)
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Lynn Tilley

Blown Away! Oklahoma's Wind Energy

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Description: The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn the fundamental parts of a windmill, to use the scientific method to isolate and adjust variables when constructing a functional windmill that lifts weights, and to understand energy conversions/transfers and how a windmill converts moving air into usable mechanical energy. Students will understand that wind power is a choice we can make that reduces pollution and climate impacts.

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

Examining Statistics: Oklahoma's Wind Energy

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Description: The purpose of this lesson is for students to examine statistics and understand that as a society and as individuals, we can make choices to help reduce the climatic impact of electricity generation. Students will understand that generating power with the wind is a choice we can make that will reduce the severity of environmental issues.

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

Resources and Population Patterns: What's the Connection?

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Description: Students will analyze data including a variety of special purpose maps of Oklahoma to determine the reason for population growth and decline in specific areas. The Giant Traveling Map of Oklahoma is used to help students understand the changing population distribution across Oklahoma.

Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Heather Braucher

The Oklahoma Standard: Tornados

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Description: Students will develop an understanding of how tornados form. Identify and locate the cities where the top 10 worst tornados in Oklahoma occurred on the Giant Map of Oklahoma. They will specifically gather and analyze data from the Moore, Oklahoma 2013 tornado site using geospatial technology.

Grade level(s): Middle                    Standards: GFL, C3
Produced By: Denise Aguilar

Immigration & Ethnic Settlement Patterns In Post-Reconstruction Oklahoma, 1865 - 1900

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Description: In this lesson students will explore the different immigration and migration patterns of settlement in post-reconstruction Oklahoma, and develop an appreciation of our rich cultural and ethnic heritage.

  Grade level(s): High School                    Standards: OAS, GFL              Produced By: Lynn Tilley

I Have Heard of a Land: Using Oklahoma’s Giant Traveling Map, with Historical Maps, to Tell a Complete Story

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Description: Geography is the landscape on which History happens. In this lesson, students will use an award-winning historical fiction picture book, the Oklahoma Giant Traveling Map, and a series of Oklahoma historical maps, to gain a better understanding of why Blacks from the South, single women, and other pioneers came to participate in the land runs, as well as the impact on Native Americans already living in the areas. Students will gain an appreciation and understanding that history usually has more than one perspective to events happening.

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

Oklahoma Route 66 Must-See Attractions

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Description: Students will discover the Mother Road, Route 66, by analyzing the history of the road, while specifically identifying locations of 10 must-see attractions on the Oklahoma portion by using the Giant Traveling Map of Oklahoma. They will discover the importance of each attraction and will create a presentation on a selected attraction. More Route 66 information and resources are available from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.

Grade level(s): Middle School                 Standards: GFL, C3
Produced By: Denise Aguilar

Laboring for Economic Justice

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Description: The purpose of this lesson is to compare and contrast the organized labor movement in United States history with Oklahoma’s labor history.

 Grade level(s): Middle and High School   Standards: OAS, GFL               Produced By: Ann Kennedy

From Sodom to the Promise Land: The Exodusters

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Description: Students will identify and describe migration of African Americans following the Civil War from the Southern States westward, particularly the Exoduster Movement, and its effect on the settlement of African American settlements in what is now the State of Oklahoma. 

 Grade level(s): Middle                     Standards: OAS, GFL             Produced By: Shirley Nero

Coal Mining in Indian Territory (Oklahoma)

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Description: Students will learn about coal mining in Oklahoma.

 Grade level(s): Middle and High School   Standards: OAS, GFL               Produced By: Ann Kennedy

Let's Walk With "Jim Crow"

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Description: The goal of this lesson is to introduce the students to the Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws of the South and Oklahoma, and the effect the codes and laws had on the development of the civil rights of African Americans in these regions.

**This lesson was published on January 15, 2014, prior to the passing of HB 1775. Because of the nature of dealing with controversial subjects and issues in the classroom and the challenges they raise, including racial stereotypes in language, illustrations, audio, and video records, the teacher must establish clear ground rules about what will and will not be permitted in terms of arguments and rhetoric, and must be prepared to enforce those rules with appropriate consequences if students ignore these rules.**

 Grade level(s): Middle and High School   Standards: OAS, GFL               Produced By: Shirley Nero

The Nitty Gritty City: Becoming an Urban Geo-Detective

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Description: This is a collection of lesson plans about geo-skills from the OKAGE 2012 Summer Institute.

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: GFL
Produced By: OKAGE

Preserving the Past, Emerging into the Future

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Description: A brief lesson plan model to integrate local geography and history as outlined in the Oklahoma Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) and the National Geography Standards.

Any town or city has a wealth of geography and history resources to explore past, present and future preservation.  These activities will spark an interest in and perpetuate the memories of a community by discovering its rich heritage.  This lesson will establish the “whys” of location patterns (Why is this town here?).  Many geographic questions can be answered.  Students will form generalizations and draw conclusions from data collected and compiled.

 Grade level(s): Middle                 Standards: PASS, GFL             Produced By: Diane Hill

Running Out of Gas

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Description: The goal of this lesson is to engage students in exploring gasoline consumption and energy conservation.  Students create oil product maps to compare Oklahoma to Syria, two oil producing places which are similar in size.  Students hypothesize about effective means of transportation to conserve energy.

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

All-Black Towns: Oklahoma's Unique Historical Geography

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Description: Oklahoma has a unique history.  Most teachers and students do not realize that Oklahoma has more incorporated "historically all-black towns" than any other state in the United States.  In the early 1900s, town promoters selected parcels of land, plotted out townsites, and began building communities in Indian Territory for newcomers from Southern states to begin a new life.  In this lesson, the students will discover the unique and special features the town promoters used to attract the newcomers.  The students are to create promotional materials that would lure someone seeking a place of freedom from prejudice, a place to educate their children, a place to provide a home and provide for their family, a place to achieve economic success, and a place to live peacefully.  In addition, the students should gain an awareness of the human and environmental factors that made these places unique.

 Grade level(s): Middle                 Standards: PASS, GFL             Produced By: Shirley Nero

Forced to Adapt

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Description: In this lesson, students place themselves back in time and “predict” how removal to Indian Territory would impact the cultures of specific tribes from different geographical locations. 

 Grade level(s): Middle                 Standards: PASS, GFL             Produced By: Janet Hall

Geography Basics Institute 2006 Lessons Part Two

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Description: The Geography Basics Institute lesson plans cover a variety of topics. This document contains the following lesson plans:

Part Two:

• Exploring the Gulf Coast in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - Page 1

• Tsunami: Catching the Ultimate Wave - Page 17

• What Are the Colors of Your State? - Page 29

• Great Circles, Small Circles, and Distance - Page 37

• What is Earth Science? What is Geography? - Page 47

• Moisture: Using a Psychrometer - Page 57

• Albedo - Page 63

• Pressure & Wind - Page 69

• As Far As the Eye Can See: Exercises in Remote Sensing - Page 77

• 5 Themes of Geography - Page 93

• Geographical Journey of Lewis and Clark - Page 101

• Where In the World Am I? - Page 107

• Population Thematic Maps - Page 110

• Push-Pull Factors - Page 115

• Latitude and Longitude Shape Africa - Page 125

• South America Map It - Page 132

• Mental Mapping Africa and Europe - Page 138

• A Quarter’s Back Lesson - Page 144

• In Between Geography - Page 147

• Windows - Page 162

• Windmills Around the World - Page 165

• Interpreting the United States at Night - Page 171

• Stand Up and Be Counted - Page 175

• Mental Mapping - Page 181

• Place and Poetry - Page 185

• Tear the Continents - Page 189

• 3D Geobooks - Page 192

• Let’s Go Caribbean - Page 197

• Jamestown Virginia - Page 201

• Geography of Normandy - Page 209

• Alphabetize Germany - Page 216

• Country in a Box - Page 222

• Cultural Symbols: Our Scenic World - Page 227

• Worldwide Conflict and War - Page 231

• Using Photographs to Teach Geography - Page 233

• The World is a Colorful Place - Page 239

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: PASS, GFL
Produced By: Marco Micozzi and Glenda Sullivan.