NationMaster has long been used as a research tool by educators and students, and it's making its presence felt in the classroom. We want to support teachers and make it easy for them to integrate NationMaster into their coursework. Hence our free Lesson Plan section.

We have chosen a wide range of topics for our sample lesson plans to showcase the sheer breadth of statistics available.

If you feel you can frame lesson plans which use our statistics, please do send us your complete lesson plans or ideas. We welcome your feedback. We will publish the best lesson plans and give you full credit. There is absolutely no constraint on the topic or grade level of the lessons.

 

Lastly, if you are looking for an online test which you can give your students, try our new NationMaster GeoLabs, a fun and interactive way to get students interested in statistics and geography. Using these Labs, students will go through the NationMaster site answering specific questions. You must give each student your e-mail address however, as the results of each quiz will be sent directly to your personal e-mail inbox. For an answer sheet sent to you by e-mail please contact us, and be sure to include 'request answer sheet' in the title. Let us know how well the GeoLab worked, and if you would like to see more on the site.

Lesson Plans for lower grades (less than 5)

• Improving Map Skills (Grade 4 or lower, Social Studies)
  Overview: It is difficult for young people to compare the earth's continents in terms of area, population, population densities, annual growth, and other geographic terms. In this lesson students will learn the skills to compare the earth's continents in a variety of ways. They will also learn their way around the world map.
• Researching Nations (Grade 3 or lower, Social Studies)
  Overview: In this lesson, students will learn to acquaint themselves with different nations, their locations and learn some basic terms like  area, population, climate etc.
• The Flag (Grade 2, Social Studies)
  Overview: It is important that the students start thinking about the ways in which people have joined together to form nations, states, and other unions. Learning about national flags will help students in this process. They will consider how a flag represents  the people of a country and why a flag can evoke emotions.
• The Seven Wonders (Grades 3 to 4 , Social Studies)
  Overview: Prior to studying Ancient Civilizations, this introduction to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World will ignite the interest of children in history and the beauty of the world around us.
• Understanding Cultural Differences (Grade 3 - 4, Social Studies)
  Overview: Students rarely realize the impact of other nations on the United States culture. With the controversial influx of asylum seekers and refugees, students need an opportunity to examine the broad spectrum of information about our complex relationships with overseas friends and foes.

Lesson Plans for higher grades (6 and above)

• Types of Governments (Grades 6 to 8, Social Studies)
  Overview: This lesson encourages students to learn the differences between various forms of government, electoral colleges and electoral systems.
• Government Formation (Grades 6 to 8, Social Studies)
  Overview : Understanding the process of creating a government. This activity illustrates one possible method of choosing a government and encourages students not only to learn the differences between various forms of government, but also to understand how different groups of people might vary in their choices.
• The Last Frontier - Africa (Grades 9 to 12, Social Studies)
  Overview: Africa is still the last frontier - the most under-developed continent in this world and vast areas in central Africa are totally cut off from outside world. The students have to prepare a report on the feasibility of building a freeway across Africa (North to South).
• Earth Forces (Grades 11 to 12, Geography)
  Overview: Students learn about geological techniques used to develop our understanding of the earth. Emphasis is placed on plate tectonics, mountain building,  earthquakes and volcanoes.
• History of Earth (Grades 11 to 12, Geography)
  Overview: In this lesson, students gain an understanding of the geologic time scale, use some standard techniques to determine age, and investigate how fossils are used to compile earth's geologic history.
• Understanding Interdependence (Grades 8 to 10, Geography/Economics)
  Overview: What if we had to wear clothes or eat food originating from our country only? Can we survive without contact with other countries, as virtual islands? This lesson brings the concept of global interdependence by exploring the origins of many of the goods that students wear and use everyday. It can be used for high school economics students as an introduction to world trade. It may also be used for history students.
• Understanding Terrorism (Grades 11 to 12, Social Studies/Current Affairs)
  Overview: In this lesson, students examine the motivations, goals and actions of countries considered to harbor terrorist factions. Students will examine the physical and political geography of these countries and check for commonalities. Using this "intelligence," they evaluate the level of the threat posed by these countries. They will make recommendations for an appropriate response from world leaders.
• Wilderness Preservation (Grades 10 to 12, Social Studies/Environment)
  Overview: This lesson introduces students to the concept of wilderness and the role that wilderness preservation has played throughout American history. Students will conduct research on different historical wilderness issues or events and analyze those events in the context of the political and cultural climate of that particular time.
• Understanding Energy Concerns (Grades 11 to 12, Social Studies/Environment)
  Overview: In this lesson, students explore the rising cost of gasoline and how it impacts people around the world differently. They learn about gasoline usage and alternate forms of energy used in several countries, and then consider the relationship between people in their country and oil.