Nature and place names in Arkansas

In this lesson students will explore one of the impacts of the natural environment on culture—the creation of Arkansas place names. Using Arkansas highway maps, they will locate place names derived from the unique characteristics of each of the state’s six natural divisions, becoming more familiar with these divisions in the process.

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies

Grade Level: 5-8 Middle School

Time period: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Arkansas Academic Standards are subject to revision every six years by the Arkansas Department of Education. The frameworks used in the majority of lesson plans on the Arkansas History Hub are from the 2006 Social Studies Frameworks and the 2007 Arkansas History Amendments and School Library Media Frameworks.

EA.3.AH.7-8.1, EA.3.AH.7-8.2, EA.3.AH.9-12.1, G.1.4.2, G.1.5.2, G.1.6.2, G.1.AH.7-8.1, G.1.AH.7-8.2, G.1.AH.7-8.3, G.1.AH.9-12.1, G.1.AH.9-12.2, G.1.AH.9-12.3, G.1.AH.9-12.4, G.3.6.1, H.6.4.17, H.6.4.3