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Junior Scholastic Teaching Kits
Teacher-approved stories, resources, and worksheets, courtesy of Junior Scholastic, the middle school Social Studies classroom magazine.
Map Skills
Teaching map skills can build students’ geography knowledge—and enhance their understanding of the world in which they live.
Featured Teaching Kits
Teacher-approved stories, resources, and worksheets for teaching map skills in your classroom, courtesy of Junior Scholastic, the middle school Social Studies classroom magazine
The explorer’s journey to the New World transformed the globe, but many Americans are taking a hard look at his legacy. Learn about the debate over whether Columbus should be celebrated—then plot his 1492 voyage on a map using lines of latitude and longitude.
In 1937, Amelia Earhart flew into history—and off the map. Learn how modern-day mystery hunters are using dogs to hunt for clues about the famed pilot’s fate. Then use a map to analyze the direction and distance of Earhart’s fateful journey.
Antarctica is a frigid, unforgiving landscape full of ice and danger. That’s what makes adventurer Colin O’Brady’s recent accomplishment so amazing. He became the first person to cross Antarctica by himself, without any assistance. Study his historic route using a polar map.
China is about as big as the United States but operates on just a single time zone. How do 1.4 billion Chinese keep up with the odd hours? Read the article to find out, then analyze a map of the world’s 24 time zones.
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Quotes
Famous quotes about exploration
“The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore.”
— Ferdinand Magellan
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
— Henry Miller
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
— Mark Twain
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Key Figures
World travelers who made an impact
The Vikings
Seafaring explorers from Scandinavia, the Vikings traveled to Africa and Asia during the Middle Ages, and around the year 1000 they were the first Europeans to discover North America—though they didn’t establish a permanent colony. The Vikings relied on the position of the sun and the stars to guide them across the seas. They even learned how to determine their points of latitude.
Christopher Columbus
While sailing west from Spain in 1492 in search of a faster route to Asia, Christopher Columbus reached San Salvador, an island in the Bahamas. The Italian explorer was credited with discovering the New World and launching Europe’s settlement of the Americas, though many people today condemn the impact his discovery had on the millions of Native Americans already living in North America.
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
In September 1513, after trudging through the jungle of what is now Panama, this Spanish explorer became the first European to spot the Pacific Ocean. Claiming the ocean and the land it touched for Spain, Balboa helped open up present-day Central and South America for conquest.
Sacagawea
In 1805, this Native American woman served as a guide and interpreter for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, explorers sent by President Thomas Jefferson to explore what is now the northwest United States. Together they crossed the uncharted wilderness from Missouri to the Pacific Ocean, and Lewis and Clark later said they probably couldn’t have completed their mission without Sacagawea’s help.
Resources
Supplemental resources that pertain to map skills
Regional and World Maps
The World Factbook collection of maps, including regional and world maps, political maps, physical maps, and ocean maps
Mapmaker Interactive
An interactive mapping tool from National Geographic
Google Earth
Explore an interactive, 3-D globe of the planet Earth
Glossary
Terms and definitions that pertain to map skills
equator
noun
the imaginary line that circles Earth halfway between the North and South poles
latitude
the measurement in degrees north and south of the equator
longitude
the measurement in degrees east and west of the prime meridian, an imaginary line that passes through Greenwich, England
physical map
a map that shows information about a region’s terrain, including major landforms and bodies of water
political map
a map that shows government-defined information about places, including country and state boundaries, capitals, and other major cities
polar map
a map that shows a flattened view of the world from directly above a polar region
Explore Other Topics
Discover other free social studies topics and middle school teaching resources from Junior Scholastic magazine.
The Roles of the Presidency
From Commander in Chief to chief of state, the president has many critical roles.
Ancient Civilizations
An overview of humanity’s first large societies: how they formed, who ruled them, and how they influenced the world today.
The United States Constitution
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It established our federal government and defined our government’s relationship with the states and citizens.
The Civil Rights Movement
Get to know Martin Luther King Jr., Barbara Johns, the Little Rock Nine, and other pioneers of the civil rights movement.
Women’s History: The Struggle for Equality
Learn about important women throughout history—including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth—and the progress that’s been made in the fight for gender equality.
The History and Heroes of World War II
An overview of World War II: why the U.S. got involved, what citizens did to fight back, and how people worldwide were affected
Real Teens of History
These inspiring teens fought for what they believed in—and made history in the process.
Social Studies Debate Kit
Teaching the art of debating—and how to write an effective argument essay—can help students master critical-thinking and communication skills.
Mastering Media Literacy and Digital Literacy
In an increasingly digital world, being able to navigate technology skillfully and evaluate online resources for accuracy and trustworthiness is crucial.
Middle School Civics
An overview of civics: what it means to be a good citizen, how democracy works, and why staying informed and engaged matters—even as kids.
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Use these features and supporting resources to give students deeper as well as broader knowledge of these key periods in U.S. history.
Immigration
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants, built by people who left their homes to seek new lives and opportunities. However, Americans' feelings about immigrants are mixed.
Empower Your Students to Explore Their World
Discover Junior Scholastic Magazine for Grades 6–8
Gary Woodard/Shutterstock (globe); Ho/Naval Museum/AFP/Getty Images (painting); Underwood Archives/Getty Images (Earhart); Courtesy of Colin O’Brady (Antarctica); Jim McMahon/Mapman® (time zone map); Fotokvadrat/Shutterstock (viking); IanDagnall Computing /Alamy (Columbus); Album/Alamy (Núñez de Balboa); Shutterstock (Sacagawea)