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MacBeth's Geography Opinion

...a small shelf in a big world (updated 1-24-05)

New! Click here to Play Geography Games!

New!  Click on the region for a list of tales to enhance your study (under construction):

India

China (coming soon)

Korea (coming soon)

Russia (coming soon)

South America (coming soon)

Australia (coming soon)

Africa (coming soon)


Geography, like literature, is a living subject.  Avoid the temptation to use a text!  It has a history and a future, and is beautiful and fascinating, when presented in an engaging manner.  Here are some ideas and books to help you draw your children into the world of geography.

Start simply, with directions

Left, right, backwards, forwards--Don't forget up and down!

Show the children the 4 cardinal directions, north, south, east and west

Learn to use a directional compass

Set up a treasure hunt using a compass, or simple directions for younger kids

When in the car, going somewhere familiar, have the children tell you where to turn

Have older kids write directions (to a store, or friends' houses) for younger kids

Let the kids help plan your next trip, with maps and guide books

Keep a geography center, including:

Maps, both physical and political

a globe

books

National Geographic Magazine (includes at least 5 maps per yearly subscription)

compass (both kinds)

pencils and paper

ruler, protractor

markers

dough recipes for geological features (see Glues, Brews and Goos)

discovery timeline

 

Reference Books for Geography

  Kids' Road Atlas From Rand McNally, this is a real road map, with games and ideas for young travelers

  National Geographic Atlas of the World  Simply the best; large format, and well worth the money

  NGS Student Atlas of the World Get the School and Library binding, not the paperback!

  The American Road Trip Planner big and beautiful, from NGS

  Blank Map Outlines: United States and World

  How the Heather Looks  (using British Children's books for geography)

  Storybook Travels (using children's books for geographic travels)

 

 

Use Non Fiction and Journals:

   Dove  (a boy's journey around the world alone; wonderful for older high school students)

   Voyage of the Beagle

   Kon-Tiki

  Use Literature to learn geography, and make it a living subject!

 

World Geography:

Homesick (an American girl lives in China)

Around the World in 80 Days

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (click here for the wonderful audio version)

Islands:

Secret Water (from the Swallows and Amazons series; great living book with map-making)

Island of the Blue Dolphins (Alone on an island; descriptive passages with geographic features)

The Cay (history and geography during WWII in the Caribbean)

Rivers:

Paddle to the Sea, also available on audio!

Minn of the Mississippi

Going West:

For the youngest (rhyming books about the west by Verla Kay)--Gold Fever and Covered Wagons, Bumpy Trails

Tree in the Trail

The West

Little House Books

West from Home:  The Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Explorers (please e-mail me with your favorites!):

Brendan the Navigator:

The Brendan Voyage

Brendan the Navigator

 

Columbus:

A Picture Book of Christopher Columb...

Where Do You Think You're Going, Chr...

Follow the Dream

In Their Own Words

Columbus

 

Leif Eriksson

Leif the Lucky

 

Magellan

To the Edge of the World

 

 

Silly stuff for learning fun:

Animaniacs Terrific geography songs!

 

 

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Home Christmas top10 Winter Snow! Nature Study Backyard Nature about us Catholic Audio Spring Geography audio Autumn Shakespeare Audio Audio Newbery Poetry Fun and Games Swallowdale Summer Audio Downloads 9th Gr. Literature Wild Monthly Music High School Science Elementary Science Field Treks Children's Fantasy Math Camping