Landmarks Activities (And How To Teach Them)
In my classroom, we love to learn about geography and landmarks activities. But because this year has made finding activities a bit harder, I have made a list of some low-prep ideas to teach about landmarks. In this post, I’ll share how to teach landmarks by using low-prep and distance learning resources.
Landmarks Activities for Elementary Students
Depending on the grade you teach, your students may need to know different details and facts about landmarks. These ideas will help you teach:
- What landmarks are
- How to find a landmark
- Famous landmarks in the U.S.
- Popular Tourist Attractions in the United States
Snag a free roadmap to help you stay on track throughout the year when your are lesson planning. HERE!
Vocabulary Posters and Landmarks Activities
I like to give all of my students a list of important words they need to know. First, I show the class vocabulary posters with real-life pictures from this Landmarks Worksheets and Activities Unit. Next, I have my class discuss the words or play a vocabulary game with a friend. Once we know the words, I have my class draw pictures, write a sentence, or complete a matching activity to show what they have learned.
Nonfiction Readers and Books About Landmarks
When teaching social studies incorporating reading is always a great idea. I love reading books and nonfiction readers to help my students learn about landmarks. Nonfiction readers are also a great way to teach your class how to take notes while you’re reading. I like to use this simple 4.3.2 Notes page in my Landmarks Unit. Students listen to the passage, then write down four facts, three questions, and then draw two pictures.
I love this reader because it can be displayed on the TV, printed, or projected onto your board using a document camera. This reader includes popular landmarks found throughout the U.S. After my class reads the short nonfiction passage, we like to share if we have visited them on vacation or have seen them before.
To make this a virtual or “distance learning” activity, check out the digital version HERE!
Digital Activities: Students Can Do At Home
With the help of a parent or grownup, I like to give my students fun activities that they can do using a tablet or computer (in my class or at home). I like to use extra resources as an early finisher/incentive to learn more about a topic we’re working on.
This activity is a fun way to get students interested in researching more landmarks and learning about the world around them. It is easy to use, and my students love working on Google Slides activities. It is from this Landmarks Digital Activity Pack.
Landmarks Imaginative Writing
Writing is another way I love to get my students to learn about geography. Having students imagine they are world travelers, geographers, or on an exotic vacation exploring the world is a fun way to incorporate the vocabulary and the content into your classroom.
Writing is always an easy activity that students can do anywhere. Outside, at home, in a classroom, you name it. Over the years, I have found that if I allow my students time to draw a picture first and label it, they are more likely to produce more writing. When they are invested in their picture, and their brain has had the chance to imagine the topic, they can come up with ideas and words for a writing assignment more easily.
Shop the Landmarks Activities from this Post:
Teaching your class about landmarks can be a great way for students to share what they know. As well as discuss the importance of landmarks, memorials, and monuments.
The landmark activities in this post are from my U.S. Landmarks Worksheets and Activities Unit and my United States Landmarks Digital Activities Pack.
Click HERE for the printable unit and HERE for the digital version. OR save money by purchasing the paper and digital bundle HERE.
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