Social Studies Lessons for High School is designed for social studies teachers to use with their government and history courses. It was developed in response to a shift in education throughout our country: a move away from rote memorization and toward the critical thinking skills necessary for many of the new performance assessment programs.

Each lesson will enable teachers to teach seven specific critical thinking skills in a step-by-step process. The information has been adapted for old media and new media formats. Web sites will be provided that will allow teachers to choose the most appropriate resource for the selected activity. All selections can be copied for classroom use. Teachers may adapt activities to allow students to complete assignments via the web.

Robert O. Black is a social studies teacher at the Harbor City Learning Center, and former Teachers Network web mentor.

Introduction

This lesson is included to reinforce basic map reading skills. Have students practice frequently with the template using various types of maps found in their government textbooks or on the following web sites:

Sample Web Sites
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection 

Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd, 1923 

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection Historical Map Web Sites


The lesson plan and sample student response sheet were developed to match:

Standard
Students will analyze the roles and relationships of regions on the formation and implementation of government policy.

Indicator
Students will gather, manage, and convey information using a variety of skills, resources, and technologies.

Below is the population distribution map that students will use in this lesson. Make an overhead transparency or individual student copies.

Population Distribution in the United States