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Department of Geography Texas Alliance for Geographic Education
Texas State Department of Geography Texas Alliance for Geographic Education Resources Grades 3-5

Grades 3-5

Spatial Thinking About Maps This executive summary and report analyzes publications from the most prominent researchers in spatial thinking in geography and Earth sciences and summarizes major findings and curricular recommendations. (NGS)

Thinking Skills in Geography Learn how to engage elementary students in geographic analytical thinking.

3rd GRADE

Mama Panya's Pancakes Lesson (PDF, 624 KB)
SS TEKS 1(7)B, 3(6)B Students analyze the text in "Mama Panya's pancakes" a village tale from Kenya. Using this information, students create maps that depict the cultural/economic behaviors in other parts of the world, through the eyes of a chosen character(s) in the texts.
We All Went on Safari Lesson (PDF, 267 KB)
SS TEKS K(11)A, K(12)AB, 1(5)B, 1(15)A, 2(7)D, 3(5)B, 6(4)C
In this activity, students will analyze text from "We all went on safari." Using this information, students will create maps that depict the physical features and animals that inhabit the region, Tanzania.

4th GRADE

Patrón de Asentamiento GeoInquiry (PDF, 674 KB)
SS TEKS 4(8)C, 5(8)ABC (In Spanish) Using ArcGIS Online, explore the relationship between the location of surface water and US population settlement patterns.
Producción de Energía GeoInquiry (PDF, 692 KB)
SS TEKS 4(12)B, 5(13)B (In Spanish) Using ArcGIS Online, students will learn about energy production and consumption in the United States.
School Atlas of Texas 2001 (PDF, 39 MB)
Texas Counties Map (PDF, 214 KB)
Texas Outline Map (PDF, 313 KB)
Texas Rivers Map (PDF, 360 KB)
Texas Rivers Map - Not Labeled (PDF, 358 KB)
Spatial Skills (ZIP, 5 MB)
Local to Global Spatial Skills: Texas Independence Trail (PDF, 1 MB)
SS TEKS 4(3)A, 4(6)B, 4(21)B
Local to Global Places and Regions: Texas (PDF, 760 KB)
SS TEKS 7(9)A
Local to Global Human Systems: Texas Population (PDF, 1 MB)
SS TEKS 4(8)ABC
Local to Global Environment and Society: Picture Analysis (PDF, 1 MB)
SS TEKS 4(9)ABC, 7(10)A
The Geographic Influences of Texas Settlement : Migration and Settlement (PDF, 1 MB)

G8: The lesson is an analysis of various maps of Texas between 1821-1861 that will be used to show the settlement and development of Texas by various ethnic groups.

5th GRADE

GeoInquiry_Explorando Elevación (PDF, 488 KB)
SS TEKS 5(4)D, 5(6)A. (In Spanish) Explore the route that Lewis and Clark followed and identify elevation levels throughout the regions of the United States.
Patrón de Asentamiento GeoInquiry (PDF, 674 KB)
SS TEKS 4(8)C, 5(8)ABC (In Spanish) Using ArcGIS Online, explore the relationship between the location of surface water and US population settlement patterns.
Producción de Energía GeoInquiry (PDF, 692 KB)
SS TEKS 4(12)B, 5(13)B (In Spanish) Using ArcGIS Online, students will learn about energy production and consumption in the United States.
United States Outline Map (PDF, 270 KB)

Esri GeoInquiries Upper Elementary (external)

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