Lesson plan for
GEOGRAPHY
Introduction
This lesson is about the physical features and political borders of the United States. Beyond
the geography questions, naturalization test students study concepts that include many U.S.
regions, states and cities.
You will lead the class through eight questions from the naturalization test related to
geography. Then, students will label a United States map with places that are on the test. The
map can hang in the classroom for future review.
Objectives
The student will be better able to
• Recall the answers to the eight USCIS test questions in the Geography theme.
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Identify on a U.S. map the location of places included in the USCIS citizenship test.
USCIS Questions
In the Geography theme:
88.
Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
89.
What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
90.
What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
91.
Name one U.S. territory.
92.
Name one state that borders Canada.
93.
Name one state that borders Mexico.
94.
What is the capital of the United States?
44.
What is the capital of your state?
Related:
63.
64.
84.
87.
98.
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
There were 13 original states. Name three.
What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
Name one American Indian tribe in the United States?
What is the name of the national anthem?
Time
Theme: 15 minutes
Activity: 30 minutes
Lesson Plan: Geography
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Materials
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Internet connectivity
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EITHER classroom projector OR enough computers for students to use as individuals or
small groups
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Preparing for the Oath website, Geography theme
(http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/index.html?theme=7)
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Map labels (attached)
Cut out the map labels before class begins.
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Answer key (attached)
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Tape or tacks
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Large U.S. map
If you do not have a large map, print the Printable Map pages (attached) and tape or pin
them to form a map that will work for this activity. The pages are numbered 1-16, and are
attached as follows:
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(blank)
Challenge Words
You can find all of the bold words in the vignettes in the word list
(http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/pdf/Wordlist.pdf). Listed below are some of those
words that will come up often during the lesson.
District: an area of a city or country that is officially divided from other areas
Federal: part of the U.S. government, not state or local governments
Legislatures: state government officials who make laws
Representatives: elected members of a government group in the United States, such
as in Congress
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Teacher Tech Tips
To learn how to use Preparing for the Oath, visit the help page at
http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/help.html
Depending on your students’ proficiency level, you might want to offer a transcript of the
narration for students to read along while watching and listening, or to have as a reference.
You can find printable transcripts at
http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/pdf/Transcript.pdf.
You may notice that the web address never changes as you navigate through Preparing for
the Oath. In order to go directly to a specific theme or question on the site, you can find a list
of links at http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/pdf/Links.pdf. These links may be useful
for using your browser’s “bookmark” tool or assigning student work. The link to go directly to
the Geography theme is http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/index.html?theme=7.
Some learning environments will be conducive to the sound features, while others will not. It
is always possible to turn on and off the website’s audio feature by clicking on this symbol:
However, please keep in mind that the test itself is spoken aloud. Students will need to be
comfortable responding to spoken questions, and be able to respond orally.
Don’t feel tied down by the structure of the themes. Once you are inside a theme, the image
tiles along the bottom represent the individual questions within that theme. You may click on
the tiles out of order to view the questions as you choose. Similarly, you may jump around
the three modes within each question: Learn, Practice, and Try.
Procedure
1. Lead the class through the Geography theme, as presented on the Preparing for the
Oath website (http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/index.html?theme=7).
2. Allow students to ask any questions they have. Feel free to refer to the Background
Information sheet (attached), as needed.
3. Distribute the map labels (attached) to students. The map labels with a star are directly
connected to the content of the Geography theme. The map labels with a circle are
related to geography, but are connected to other USCIS questions.
4. Ask students to approach the map in groups to put the label in the correct place on
the map.
Please Note: Some map items have more than one correct location. For example,
you may place “Mississippi River” anywhere along that river. You may place
“Texas, borders Mexico,” anywhere within the state of Texas. The answer
key (attached) gives one version of a correct map.
5. Encourage students to ask each other for help. If they are still unsure, they should ask
the teacher or consult the answer key.
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6. Once the map is complete, review the USCIS questions related to the labels.
7. (Optional) Have students create their own labels for where they live, where they have
lived in the past, where they have visited, and so on.
8. As a class, discuss:
a. Have you ever been to the places that are labeled on the map? What did you
see there?
b. Is your state or city labeled? Is your state or city famous for anything?
Learn More Links
Smithsonian’s History Explorer
(http://historyexplorer.americanhistory.si.edu)
Your gateway to innovative online resources for teaching and learning American history,
designed and developed by the National Museum of American History.
United States Geological Survey
(www.usgs.gov)
United States Geological Survey is the federal source for science about the Earth, its natural
and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment.
The National Geographic Society
(www.nationalgeographic.com)
National Geographic provides free maps, photos, videos and daily news stories, as well as
articles and features about animals, the environment, cultures, and history.
Printable Image Credits
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Map from http://digital-vector-maps.com
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Background Information
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The United States is in North America, bordering both the Atlantic Ocean and the
Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico.
Based on area, the United States is the third largest country in the world, behind Russia
and Canada. It is about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa;
about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); is slightly larger
than China; and more than twice the size of the European Union.
The United States is the third largest country by population, after China and India.
The United States is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The climate of the United States is mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and
Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plans west of the Mississippi River, and
arid in the Great Basin of the southwest.
The United States has a vest central plain, mountains in the west, hills and low
mountains in the east. Alaska has rugged mountains and broad river valleys. The
topography of Hawaii is rugged and volcanic.
Lesson Plan: Geography
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The map labels with a star are directly connected to the content of the
Geography theme. The map labels with a circle are related to geography, and
are connected to other USCIS questions.
Nation's capital, Washington DC
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Maine, borders Canada
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Your state capital, ___________
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New Hampshire, borders Canada
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New Hampshire, original state
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Vermont, borders Canada
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Massachusetts, original state
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New York, borders Canada
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Rhode Island, original state
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Pennsylvania, borders Canada
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Connecticut, original state
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Ohio, borders Canada
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New York, original state
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Michigan, borders Canada
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New Jersey, original state
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Minnesota, borders Canada
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Pennsylvania, original state
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North Dakota, borders Canada
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Delaware, original state
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Montana, borders Canada
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Maryland, original state
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Idaho, borders Canada
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Virginia, original state
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Washington, borders Canada
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North Carolina, original state
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Alaska, borders Canada
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South Carolina, original state
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California, borders Mexico
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Georgia, original state
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Arizona, borders Mexico
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Missouri River
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New Mexico, borders Mexico
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Mississippi River
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Texas, borders Mexico

Pacific Ocean
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Atlantic Ocean
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Lesson Plan: Geography
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The map labels with a star are directly connected to the content of the
Geography theme. The map labels with a circle are related to geography, but are
connected to other USCIS questions.
Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, NY
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Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-in, Greensboro, NC

Declaration of Independence adopted, July 4th, 1776, Philadelphia, PA
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Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts
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Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, bombing at the start of U.S. involvement in WWII, 1941
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Original Cherokee region, Southeast United States
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Cherokee reservation, OK
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Pueblo region, Southwest United States
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Iroquois region, upstate NY
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Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD, Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem there.
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Louisiana Territory, start (east point)
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Louisiana Territory, end (west point)
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Mason-Dixon line, states above were in the Union during the Civil War, states below
were Confederate
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Constitutional Convention, 1787, Philadelphia, PA
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September 11th terrorist attacks, World Trade Buildings, New York, NY
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September 11th terrorist attacks, Pentagon, Arlington, VA
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September 11th terrorist attacks, Shanksville, PA
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Lesson Plan: Geography
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A. Nation's capital, Washington, DC
B. New Hampshire, original state
C. Massachusetts, original state
D. Rhode Island, original state
E. Connecticut, original state
F. New York, original state
G. New Jersey, original state
H. Pennsylvania, original state
I. Delaware, original state
J. Maryland, original state
K. Virginia, original state
L. North Carolina, original state
M. South Carolina, original state
N. Georgia, original state
O. Missouri River
P. Mississippi River
Q. Pacific Ocean
R. Atlantic Ocean
S. Maine, borders Canada
T. New Hampshire, borders Canada
U. Vermont, borders Canada
V. New York, borders Canada
W. Pennsylvania, borders Canada
X. Ohio, borders Canada
Y. Michigan, borders Canada
Z. Minnesota, borders Canada
a. North Dakota, borders Canada
b. Montana, borders Canada
c. Idaho, borders Canada
d. Washington, borders Canada
e. Alaska, borders Canada
f. California, borders Mexico
g. Arizona, borders Mexico
h. New Mexico, borders Mexico
i. Texas, borders Mexico
j. Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, NY
k. Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-in, Greensboro, NC
l. Declaration of Independence adopted, July 4th, 1776,
Philadelphia, PA
m. Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts
n. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, bombing at the start of U.S.
involvement in WWII, 1941
o. Original Cherokee region, Southeast United States
p. Cherokee reservation, OK
q. Pueblo region, Southwest United States
r. Iroquois region, upstate NY
s. Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD, Francis Scott Key wrote the
national anthem there.
t. Louisiana Territory, start (east point)
u. Louisiana Territory, end (west point)
v. Mason-Dixon line, states above were in the Union during
the Civil War, states below were Confederate
w. Constitution Convention, 1787, Philadelphia, PA
x. September 11th terrorist attacks, World Trade Buildings, New
York, NY
y. September 11th terrorist attacks, Pentagon, Arlington, VA
z. September 11th terrorist attacks, Shanksville, PA
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