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Elementary Curriculum

Mapping Our World: An Introduction to the Art of Cartography 
As long as people have existed, maps have served an important purpose as a teaching tool, helping us organize knowledge and understand our world. In this six-lesson cartography unit, students view and engage with maps from the American Geographic Society Library’s collection. They are introduced to cartography, explore a variety of artistic media and techniques, and investigate what maps can tell us about the people who made them. The curriculum was made by Hodna Nuernberg. 
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Personal Geographies (inspired by Medieval Mappa Mundi) 
Students are challenged to look at maps from an artistic perspective by investigating several examples that go outside the standard geographical use of a map.  This lesson starts with investigating symbols, to thinking about personal places of experience and interest, to finally creating a map of their own based on their exploration. The layout of their personal geography map is loosely inspired by medieval Italian mappa mundi created by Giovanni Leardo. The curriculum was made by Annie Kassens. 
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Middle School Curriculum

Arctic: Indigenous People 
This story map explores the culture of Arctic indigenous peoples through resources found in the American Geographical Society Library archives. The curriculum was made by Gregory F. Roman. 
Link to Worksheet 
Link to WebApp 

Mapping the Arctic 
This story map incorporates various maps from the American Geographical Society Library and traces the evolution of Arctic mapping. The curriculum was made by Gregory F. Roman. 
Link to Worksheet 
Link to WebApp 

Mapping the World 
This story map uses various maps from the American Geographical Society Library to examine the advances made in accurate world mapmaking. The curriculum was made by Gregory F. Roman. 
Link to Worksheet 
Link to WebApp 

Project Lakefront 
According to an article in the Smithsonian magazine, “Roughly 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, but less than four percent is covered by lakes.” The fact that lake water seems more precious than gold is an idea that most of us don’t comprehend. Through the teaching of this lesson, students will gain a better understanding of human use, impact, and relationship with lakes. This project is the examination of municipalities located on freshwater lakes. Specifically, this project will have students research the ways societies, cultures, economies, and governments interact with the lake and shoreline. This project will encompass all aspects of social studies, as well as work on skills like collaboration, research, opinion-based writing and supporting opinions with evidence. The project is broken up into four parts that deepen their knowledge and understanding as it goes on. At first introducing some examples of cities with lakefront, then some creative lessons in the middle to further the students interest and creativity in the topic, and finally ending with a student-led research project. This lesson was created to be a jumping-off point, meant for educators to make their own leaps of discovery and learning. The curriculum was made by Logan Duerst.  
Link to WebApp 

Who I Am, Where I’m From 
In this unit, students will analyze maps of their homelands from the AGSL Digital Collections dated as recently as 2018 to as far back as 1721. Specifically, students will use three pre-selected maps that include their home countries’ region. After identifying and writing about their homeland, they will study how its name and borders have changed through the time period of these maps. Students will then perform research using online databases to learn how and why these changes occurred. During this unit, students will also acquire new academic vocabulary while gaining insight into how people in power have changed our world. The curriculum was made by Erin Sivek. 
Academic Vocabulary 
Video of Final Assessment Options 
Link to Worksheets 

Who I Am, Where I’m From (Part 2) 
In this cross-curricular Social Studies and English Language Arts unit, immigrant and refugee students will explore maps of their homelands from the AGSL Digital Collections. Students can use pre-selected maps or search for maps in the collections.  Students will perform research using online databases and/or other primary sources to learn how and why their homeland’s names and borders have changed over time. During this unit, students will also learn new academic vocabulary while gaining insight into how people in power have changed our world. The curriculum was made by Erin Sivek.  
Link to project website 

World Explorers 
This StoryMap has curriculum themed on World Explorers appropriate for middle school students Grades 6-8.  The curriculum includes lessons on a broad overview of the history of map-making, and how it influenced world exploration, as well as some key explorers throughout history, and the motivations and consequences of their expeditions. The curriculum was made by Jennifer Yourd. 
Link to WebApp 

X Marks the Spot! Historical Maps of Wisconsin 
What can maps tell us about the early history of European explorers and traders in and around Wisconsin? Early historical maps of the Great Lakes area in the American Geographical Society Library show how European nations explored and understood this region. These maps also show how Europeans’ knowledge of the area around Wisconsin changed over time. Learn from an expert map librarian how to read and use maps for historical research.
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High School Curriculum

¡Agua es vida!
This unit is intended for a Heritage Spanish course, grades 7-12,
and focuses on identity, history, cultural heritage and connections,
while strengthening geographical literacy skills. Students will
strengthen interpretive skills through authentic documents, discover
similarities within global issues of water scarcity, compare local and
international resources, and investigate possible creative solutions
for a sustainable future. This curriculum was made by Jessica Santiago.
Link to StoryMap

The Arctic: Evolving Claims 
This story map traces the evolution of competing claims made by various countries in the Arctic region by using various resources from the American Geographical Society Library. The curriculum was made by Gregory F. Roman. 
Link to Worksheet 
Link to WebApp 

Decolonization and Independence in 20th Century Africa 
With the end of the Second World War in 1945, colonial troops who had fought in the conflict returned home and joined movements demanding independence from European empires. This process of decolonization saw increasing calls for self-government, national pride, and an end to colonialism. Over the next three decades, dozens of countries in Africa and Asia achieved independence through a variety of different strategies. This project focuses on the story of decolonization in four African countries: Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Algeria. Additionally, the project also showcases important historical and geographical skills—visual thinking, spatial thinking, and critical thinking—that both students and teachers will find useful in helping to analyze and work with primary sources, especially maps. The curriculum was made by Nicholas Gerard-Larson. 
Link to WebApp 

European Colonialism 
This unit will be used in sections of Ethnic Studies at the high school level. It focuses on European colonialism, specifically the impact that European colonization has had on formerly colonized nations. Students should examine the timelines and watch accompanying video clips; then, using the AGSL maps, connect that content with the given map. Following these two units, the students can further examine the role that colonization and global capitalism played in the formation of racist ideas that stick with us today. The curriculum was made by Lukas Wierer.  
European Colonialism: Timelines of European Colonialism Across the Globe 
Link to Worksheets 

La geografía del desplazamiento climático 
This StoryMap uses AGSL maps and photos, as well as current data on extreme climate events, to lead students through an exploration of five major causes of climate change displacement. For each extreme climate event, the students will also explore a case study. This StoryMap is designed for an International Baccalaureate Spanish course and it includes interpretive reading activities, which provide practice for the IB exam (the activities will be linked in the fall of 2021). Although it is designed for an IB course, it can be used in any advanced Spanish course. This StoryMap includes a handout that students can use to reflect / answer the questions in the StoryMap. The handout can be found as a button at the top of the StoryMap page. All questions that are found on the handout are typed in blue on the StoryMap. The curriculum was made by Danielle Chaussée. 
Link to WebApp – NOTE: This StoryMap does not include a summative assessment because it is only one part of a larger unit that encompasses a broader scope of immigration issues. 

Lenguas indígenas de México
In this lesson, students will study historical maps showing the distribution of Indigenous languages in Mexico in order to describe the maps and begin to interpret them. Incorporates the practice of prepositions and some geographical terms. This curriculum was made by Boston Peters.
Link to PDF / docx

Mapping Our Neighborhood
In this unit, students will study the parts of a map and the neighborhoods of several global cities. They’ll interrogate their own communities and identities and ultimately construct a map of their own neighborhoods. The curriculum was made by Jeff Hannan.
Link to unit plan

Maps and Sovereignty in Global Politics
The concept of sovereignty sits at the heart of many ongoing debates around power, politics, and international relations. Through six case studies, this project provides students and educators with examples of how that concept plays out in global politics today. Ongoing conflicts in places like Ukraine and Israel/Palestine are covered, as well as more local, historical claims through tribal sovereignty in Wisconsin. By exploring how sovereignty is defined, applied, and contested, students can gain a broader conceptual understanding of that idea through relevant examples and significant, contemporary debates. The curriculum was made by Nicholas Gerard-Larson.
Link to StoryMap

Origins of ASL & History of North American Sign Languages  
The final goal is for students is to not only read the StoryMaps, “The History of Sign Languages in North America” and the “The Origins of ASL,” but annotate as they read and answer text dependent questions connected to the material. The teacher will demonstrate annotating the first portion of both StoryMaps, then have the students complete annotating and reading the rest of the StoryMaps on their own. All of these steps will be done virtually, so students can work at their own pace, while still meeting the deadline. The curriculum was made by Aspen Kuk.  
The Origins of ASL 
The History of Sign Languages in North American 

Peary’s Polar Expeditions 
This story map utilizes resources from the American Geographical Society Library to examine Admiral Robert Peary’s various polar expeditions leading to his successful reaching of the North Pole in 1909. The curriculum was made by Gregory F. Roman. 
Link to Worksheet 
Link to WebApp 

Spatial Profiling: Milwaukee 
An interactive Home Owners Loan Corporation map that shows how Milwaukee was divided based on race and class during the 1930’s under the New Deal mortgage program. There is also information on Milwaukee’s place in the Civil Rights movement to call attention to these issues in the 60’s and 70’s and how these neighborhoods are still affected today by food deserts. The curriculum was made by Nathan Conn.
Link to WebApp 

Teaching Latin America with Digital Maps
A three-day teacher workshop “Teaching Latin America with Digital Maps,” hosted by UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Suitable for elementary through post-secondary classrooms, particularly in social studies, urban studies, and environmental studies.
Three recordings from August 5-7, 2025.
Resource compilation from the workshop.

The Untaught History of Afro-Latinos 
Afro-Latinos is a topic that rarely gets covered in Spanish classes in the United States, and it is important to the history of Latin America. This StoryMap allows students to easily navigate information even if there isn’t a teacher physically there to help. The expectation is for students to practice their close reading skills and answer text-dependent questions as they read along. The curriculum was made by Arleth Villagran.
Afro-Latinos StoryMap 

Various Document Based Questions (DBQs)
Colonies
Compromise and Kansas Map
Industrial Revolution
Reconstruction Geography
Transatlantic Slave Trade
The curriculum was made by Jeremy Nichols.

Cold War Maps & Propaganda (Student Version)
Cold War Maps & Propaganda (Lesson Plan)
World War I Propaganda (Student Version)
World War I Propaganda (Lesson Plan)
This curriculum was made by Andrew Lazzari.

The World of You 
Maps have long been a source of interest and intrigue.  Early maps were mostly pictorial and often inaccurate.  Over the years, through the use of satellite imagery, maps have become more and more accurate.  Although maps are now widely available online, paper maps are still highly valued. The seven lessons presented here are designed to guide students to view maps in different ways, to move beyond seeing maps as static objective navigational tools. Through a variety of discussions, interactive experiences, and activities, students will come to a much deeper understanding of the vast field of cartography and how maps shape the way we see the world. The lessons can be used independently, with varying degrees of amplification, or as a tool to build background knowledge for the project: The World of You. The curriculum was made by Sarah Harley. 
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