Try this youtube intro from the West Wing: "Why are we changing maps?" as an entre to a lesson on projection, latitude/longitude, etc.
Events happen in places.
Let your students place them in the context of their location.
Lesson plans by theme, location, primary source - there are some incredibly COOL things you can do with Park Service lessons.
TEACHING with HISTORIC PLACES
explore NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MONUMENTS AND PARKS in the classroom
(or your neighborhood).
Teach history with historic places... teach by THEME, TIME PERIOD or STATE
JAZZ UP THOSE STATE REPORTS - HERE ARE LESSON PLANS!
Start student engagement with history by exploring their home town!
Local museums, your public library, and historical societies abound - and are excited to work with you and your students.
Try this:
Try this in class: Using the NPS Focus database, locate buildings of significance in your town or county. Download the image and print or save it to the computer. Use google maps/street view [or visit downtown and take pictures] to compare the images and suggest reasons for changes to the building or its surroundings. Create a timeline of events between the date of the image and the date of the current viewing.
Look at this list of National Park Service designated Antiquities. Research any one of them and you'll find stories of terror, uniqueness, and incredible beauty.
click on the image of Bumpass Hell:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bumpass_Hell,_
Lassen_Volcanic_National_Park,_
California_(22952656599).jpg