Geography Resources For Kids

I've developed a new love: Geography. It appeals to the felt need I like to call, "I Finally Got Something Right For Once In My Life."

Colombia! I know where Colombia is! And I can usually show it to you right here on this map!

What few people know is that I entered this homeschooling gig with the full intent of educating myself. I have no idea what happened to all that stuff I "learned" in school, but most of what I remember involves Food Items And Where They Were Placed On My Cafeteria Plate.

So as you can see, important stuff.

This is the first year I've taught the subject to myself my kids. I'm a cheapskate know-it-all, and because of that, I spent just five dollars on geography curriculum this year. These were my goals for the subject:

1. Memorize all the countries in the world, one continent at a time
   
2. Learn about several countries through books and videos from the library
3. Experience the different cultures through trying new foods
4. Practice basic map-reading skills
   

I figured that plan was sufficient for first grade, especially since *I'd* never learned that stuff to begin with.

My list of resources isn't exhaustive, but maybe there's something in here to help you out. Here ya go.


PRINTABLE BLANK MAPS

• If you like big, wall-sized maps, check out mega maps. I like to print the four-sheet by four-sheet size, which fits nicely on the side of my fridge. Then when the troops are least expecting it, I holler out, "Point to Guatemala!" It's great fun.
  
  
• From that same mega maps website, I also print a couple notebook-sized maps to keep with our books. I color one page and leave it unlabeled. I make him color the second map and then write in the names of the countries. His sheet becomes the "cheat sheet" and my unmarked map is used as the "quiz sheet." We go through the map once a week day.
  

GLOBES AND ATLASES

• We keep a globe within easy reach. We've handled that thing more than I ever thought we would. It comes in handy mostly when we're not studying geography. You can spend a lot of money on a globe, but I don't recommend it. Unless you have children who are Delicate and Sweet, I can assure you that the globe will get destroyed just like every other possession in your house.
  
  
• I also keep a notebook-sized world atlas in another part of the house, along with the school books. That resource gets used just as much if not more than our dictionary.

ONLINE GAMES

• www.kidsgeo.com. There are several drag-and-click-the-country-to-the-right-spot kind of games. The timer counts up, so you can race against yourself. Not that speed has anything to do with learning, mind you. But still. There are the competitive types in the crowd. NOT THAT I'D KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, HELLO, PATHWORDS. This site has other games as well, including a longitude-latitude search, and a state capitals and world capitals quiz.
  
  
• www.sheppardsoftware.com. There are a whole variety of "put the country in the right spot" kinds of games. What is great about this site is that there are several level of difficulty, making the games fun for beginners and geography geeks alike. You can print maps from this site too.
  
  
• www.lizardpoint.com. This is a basic game but it is thorough and keeps score, which is helpful for parents.
  
  
• www.maps.com. A potpourri of games.
  
  
• www.travelpod.com. This one's for the geeks in the crowd. It's a total ego-boosting (or busting) game. Addicting.
  
  

VIDEOS

• I'm not going to shout from the rooftops my deep and admiring love for the Families of the World series. However, they're good enough, I can get them from the library, and they give me 30 minutes to take a nap get some work done. Here are the titles that are currently available:
  
  Families of Australia
  Families of Brazil
  Families of Canada
  Families of China
  Families of Costa Rica
  Families of Egypt
  Families of France
  Families of Ghana
  Families of India
  Families of Israel
  Families of Japan
  Families of Korea
  Families of Mexico
  Families of Puerto Rico
  Families of Russia
  Families of Thailand
  Families of United Kingdom
  Families of USA
  Families of Vietnam
  
  
• There are TONS of Globe Trekker DVDs available; too many to list. My only grief with this show is that the some of the hosts are difficult to understand. So while the Families of the World series is great for kids but dull for adults -- the Globe Trekker series is just the opposite. But that doesn't stop me from recommending them. The Globe Trekker DVDs are of such good quality that kids can learn a lot just from the visuals.
  
  
• Rick Steves is another good host with a full series of DVDs. If you're fortunate, you can catch him on PBS, the TV channel for geeks.
  

MAP SKILLS

• Maybe I just have a genius for a son (COUGH COUGH) but the map skills books I've used have always been waaaay below his level. However, they've always taught him things that I never would have thought to teach him otherwise -- like compass directions, longitude/latitude, and how to use a legend. The only reason I continue to use the Map Skills (School Specialty Publishers) series is because they're cheap, yet still get the job done--albeit quickly.

One of the rewarding things about studying geography is that it helps so many other things make sense. I wasn't kidding when I said that one of the main reasons I teach is to learn. And it's forty-seven kinds of enjoyable to learn alongside those I spend every waking moment with love the most.

Now. I'm certain you have a geography resource I'll love. What is it?

More tips over at Rocks in my Dryer!