School is in the air. =)
Shiny new backpacks and fresh spiral notebooks beckon from the store aisles. Are you ready? Not quite? Already back in the swing?
How about a round-up of some good geography resources to help get your geography groove on?
Homeschool Geography For All Ages
I’ve come to the conclusion that I must be some kind of geography nerd. 😉 I own all of these myself and I know you’re going to love them.
You see, geography isn’t just about maps and facts, it’s about the people and cultures that live inside those little lines. So yes, it might be a lot of fun coloring in a map and labeling it (see–I told you I’m weird,) but it’s so much more interesting to read about the far away places and people. All the diversity in this world–in the landscape, the climate, the people, their traditions–reminds me how creative and amazing our God is.
He created it all!
So if you find geography interesting like I do, or you’re just getting started, or you just need a way to incorporate this necessary learning, here’s a few things to help you do that.
Give Your Child The World
This new book by Jamie C. Martin, Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time, is the newest addition to our geography arsenal. This isn’t a textbook at all, but a simple guide for helping you choose good literature to read aloud with your children to introduce them to people and places around the world.
Inside you’ll find lists of reading suggestions for each age, categorized by country. Also, at the back of the book you’ll find four indexes organized by author, region, time period, and title. It’s a very neat little book worth owning, whether as a geography supplement, a read-aloud source, or a literature study resource.
Around The World In 80 Days
The classic by Jules Verne, Around the World In 80 Days, is the adventure-packed story of Phileas Fogg (who is obsessed with time), and his faithful servant Passeportout, who travel the world on a wager. After Fogg bets his fellow club members that he can circumnavigate the globe in a mere eighty days, he leaves immediately with his valet Passeportout while being pursued by Detective Fix, who thinks he is a bank robber, making the journey even more challenging. After many adventures, including rescuing a Hindu princess, they all safely return to London.
You can turn the reading of this novel into a complete little unit study, stopping to study each place they visit, the various modes of transportation they use, the different cultures and religions, and so much more. After you’re done, have your kids look up a U.S. journalist named Nellie Bly (the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane) who decided to attempt to break Fogg’s “record.” Leaving New York on November 14, 1889, she was able to circumnavigate the globe in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds!
(Check out this Pinterest board I started for this, when the kids and I started doing this a few years ago. We never finished, but plan to start over and do it this fall, so new pins will be added as we go!)
Around The World Coloring Book & Twistable Crayons
For your younger learners, this Around the World Coloring Book is exactly what it sounds like. Each coloring page is a different country, with some key terrain features, landmarks, and cities marked on the map. The coloring page also includes a picture of the country flag, along with some cultural information.
For example, the map of China shows the Himalayas, the Great Wall, the Yangtze River, Beijing, and Hong Kong. The page also talks about the Chinese calendar, British colonization, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden city, and has a picture of the Chinese flag. Lastly, a chart of stats and facts is included: capital, population, language, currency, and chief exports.
Use these coloring pages as you study by region or country. A set of twistable crayons is perfect for little hands because they don’t break as easy and don’t need sharpening.
WonderMaps Software
For your older learners, or for more detailed and customizable maps, WonderMaps software is a valuable asset for any homeschool geography study. With a huge library of maps to choose from, both current maps and older maps from previous eras, you can choose which features you want to include or exclude before you print.
We discovered WonderMaps when I was a brand ambassador for them a few years ago. I’m not a brand ambassador anymore, but we still have and use the software. There are too many benefits of this software to include here in one paragraph, but I’ve written about WonderMaps before. Check out this detailed post to learn more about WonderMaps and it’s many wonderful features: WonderMaps for Relaxed Geography.
Tracing Paper, Color Pencils, Thin Markers
Last but not least, every geography curriculum needs some basic supplies! Tracing paper, color pencils, and thin markers to give you everything you need to get going. What’s the tracing paper for? Tracing maps is an excellent exercise in hand/eye coordination, but it’s also a good way to input the shape and detail of a state or country into your brain’s memory banks.
Even if you don’t use tracing paper and just outline the printed maps with markers, you’ll get the job done. Check out this post about tracing the United States with markers that I did with the kids. If you trace a state or country enough times, you and your kids will be able to recognize and identify it by shape, and possibly even be able to draw it from memory if you keep practicing!
Complete Geography Study
You could pull off a complete geography study with only these resources. However, if your kids are junior high or high school ages, if you’ve done something like this before and now you want something more in depth, or if you’re looking for something worthy of a high school credit, you could use all of these items as supplements with North Star Geography from Bright Ideas Press (the geography book we use.) If you dig into the companion cd that comes with North Star, and start studying the world region by region, these items will help you get the job done.
But as I mentioned, if you’re just looking for a relaxed way to enjoy studying the world with your kids, all you need are some good books, some good maps, and something to color with. =)
Do you like geography, too?
- How do you define geography? Give me your best definition!
- What are your favorite geography resources?
- Which of these items seems the most exciting and why?
Note: This post was originally a giveaway built around my favorite geography materials, part of the “Back to School Gift Basket” giveaways from iHomeschool Network members. The giveaway has since closed and the winner announced.
A big thanks Zondervan (Web| FB| T| YT) for donating one copy of Give Your Child the World, and Bright Ideas Press (Web| FB| T| P| G+| YT) for donating one copy of WonderMaps for the giveaway.
If you have any questions about the above items, feel free to message me or comment below. Have a great school year!
Geography is the study of the earth; its landforms, continents, countries, peoples, history, and cultures.
Geography is the study of the physical world around us and how humans interact with that world. My children love making layered maps of an area: rivers, mountains, cities, roads. Perhaps because they love to take road trips? WonderMaps looks amazing!!! Digital map collections can be so expensive and I hate to purchase the without trying them out first. It looks amazing!
Geography is the study of maps and countries and cultures and how they all change. I love the Beautiful Feet Paddle to the Sea study. The Wondermaps look amazing! Thanks!
I think of geography as the position of the countries, the flags, landmarks, and a few key points about the people who live there.
Thanks for the opportunity to win. Geography is learning about countries, continents, the people who live there and cultures. I am just beginning to HS big kids, but my preschooler and I use a variety of library books and our continent boxes to learn Geography. My youngest would LOVE the coloring book and colors:)
Geography is the study of the world,places and people. How the governments have arranged countries . Wonderland looks like a great resource. We use maps and globes and novels to study geography .
Great giveaway! To me, Geography is learning where places are located in relation to each other, the characteristics of each place and what makes each place unique. Two of my favorite resources for Geography are Usborne’s Lift-the-flap Picture Atlas and Uncle Josh’s Outline Map Book. I think the item I am most excited about is Around the World in 80 Days because it is one of my favorite books – it’s a really great Geography resource!
We are a homeschooling family. I have a son, age 7, and a daughter, age 2. We chose to homeschool due to our country’s politics and lack of God. Our family motto is, “We do life, together.” So, to answer your questions…. 1. I believe geography is not just a latitude/longitude number or place on a map. It also includes the culture, the people, the food, the traditions, the seasons, the language, the religions, the history, the ancestry, and the change in the topographical elements. 2. I would have to say our favorite geography resources would be: The Bible (first… Read more »
Geography – locations around the globe full of interesting culture, adventurous terrain, and history.
Favorite resources – maps and bullet point snippets of that area
Looking forward to Around the World in 80 days.
I fixed your email address, Shelly. =)
For us Geography is the study of the world, it’s people and how they both interact with each other
How do you define geography? Give me your best definition! – We define it as studying the world!
What are your favorite geography resources? – Montessori Maps & Pin Maps
Which of these items are you most excited about and why? – Give Your Child the World, who wouldn’t want to do that?
We are just starting a “formal” study of geography this year with my younger ones. With my old one I loved using living books paired with maps. We loved a book called The Royal Road to Romance by Richard Halliburton.
I’d be excited to see all the items in this basket but having a good go to for maps would be great! No more internet searching 🙂
I believe geography facts won’t stick if it’s not paired with the study of people. Our definitions are probably very similar 😉
Geography is studying everywhere in the world. My favorite resources are studying the locations of people we are studying. Around the World coloring book!
I define ‘geography’ as: the physical (land mass, seas, etc) and cultural (movement of people throughout history) study of God’s creation!
I currently don’t have any resources outside of the Bible, and our local geography itself so I am very excited at the possibility of winning this give-away, and at the very least, exploring these items as potential resources!
The WonderMaps Software sounds so exciting especially since it’s customizable for specific needs before printing! And it’s all right there.
How do you define geography? We basically define geography as studying where places are and where they are in relation to where we are. So maps, landmarks, directions, areas and so on. What are your favorite geography resources? Currently we have used maps, a globe, an atlas, and coloring pages to show where in the world these places are. Which of these items are you most excited about and why? I’ve always wanted to take a look at WonderMaps. I think it would make an excellent resource in our home school studies. Thank you for this opportunity and good luck… Read more »
Geography is studying places, peoples, and cultures, and how they all interact. (Admittedly, this will probably develop as we further our studies!) We are still discovering geography, but I love having map puzzles for my little ones, and story books from around the world that include characters interactions both with their natural and built environments. (In addition to the usual texts.) Both the “Give Your Child the World” and “Around the World Coloring Book” look awesome (okay, I’d want the first more, but my daughters would probably vote for the second). Wondermaps sounds amazing too–I haven’t head of them before… Read more »
I define geography as the study of different land features, ecosystems, regions of the map, and the people and cultures in an area.
My favorite geography resources are Classical Conversations memory work and Memoria Press curriculum. We also use maps, glopes, and the great book Geography from A to Z.
I am most excited about Give your Child the World as I am sure there are amazing books and resources I have never heard of in it!
I define geography as the study of places and the people that live in those places. This is actually one of my weak points! I don’t have any favorite resources. Big brother is only 7, but I know I need to start teaching him more about Social Studies. I”m really excited about the book Give Your Child the World. I’ve never heard of it, but love themed school weeks!
I define geography as the study of the earth, with its landforms, ecological systems, countries, cultures, and people.
Personally, I enjoy geography quite a bit, and maps and globes have always been some of my favorite geography resources.
I’m especially excited about the WonderMaps and the Give Your Child the World book. I would love to use the maps in WonderMaps and since cultures intrigue me, I am very curious to see the list of suggested resources in the book.
My geography is where I’m at right now, where I’ve been, and where I might go. Haha! OK so we spent the summer memorizing through 50 states in alphabetical order. Would love to conquer the world map next!
Geography is the study of the location of the worlds Countries, States and Cities. My favorite geography resource is a globe. I am excited about all these items because geography is one of my weaker subjects.
Oh and I’m most excited about the Jules Verne Book! Love love love our reading time together and we can kill two birds with one stone here. My favorite geography resource has been our US puzzle we put together as fast as we can and sing the 50 states pointing at each one. It’s sort of a competition around here!
Geography is learning about the world and its people. We love using maps and globes when studying geography and we are very interested in Wondermaps.
I understand geography to be so much more than a study of places. Geographic history and historical geography have so much to teach us in order to understand our own countries and cultures better. I’m most excited about the children’s coloring book and allowing for similar comparisons among different places.
How do you define geography? Give me your best definition!
The study of the Earth and all the people and places in it!
What are your favorite geography resources?
Hmm thats a good one! We love lapbooks and notebooking pages but havent really started geography studies yet so I’ll let you know!
Which of these items are you most excited about and why?
The coloring book and accompanying cloring in supplies because almost all the kids in this house are visual/kinesethetic learners
Geography is the study of landforms, countries, and cultures. We use globes, maps, and books to study geography. I am actually looking at Bright Ideas Press’ Northstar Geography for my ninth grader, so the Wonder Maps CD looks great.
Geography is the study of the topography of our world and the nations and people that live on it. My favorite Geography resource is a globe. I’ve had wondermaps on my wish list for a while now so that is my favorite part of this giveaway.
My definition of geography is the learning of the of the uniqueness of the different countries and people in God’s world.
Our favorite geography resources are maps and books.
My favorite item in this giveaway is the Wondermaps 🙂
Geography is the study of the world God created and the people groups who inhabit the world.
My favorite geography resource is North Star Geography by Tyler Hogan.
The product I’m most excited about in the basket is Give Your Child the World.
Geography is the study of countries and the people that live in them.
We use living books and our wall maps and globe.
I am most excited about the book Around the World in 80 Days.
Thanks
Geography is the study of Earth’s land-forms, continents, countries, peoples, history, and cultures.
This looks wonderful! It would be great to win this as we are low on cash this year. I am trying to do almost everything for free!
I define Geography as the study of people, places and things around the world and in our country.
My favorite Geography item would at this time be anything I can use that I can get free.
The Item(s) that I am most excited about is the Wonder Maps computer software. That way I can download what I need when I need it.
I would say geography is the the study of the world around us. I love how we learn so much from Classical Conversations on this topic and I’m most excited about the Give Your Child the World book.
Geography includes the locations of all the different places in the world. It also includes all the natural features: rivers, mountains, lakes, canyons, etc…
We LOVE maps in our house! We have them hanging in several rooms. All types, old and new 🙂
Give your child the world. I have seen it in several of the giveaway baskets, and am very interested to see what it is.
The wonder maps software interests me a lot. The whole basket is amazing. I think of geography as both the how to find places and natural resources in our diverse world, as well as building an awareness of the cultures and counties that make up our natural world. We love to explore maps old and new, read about far away places as well as learn how to follow directions and have map skills. We use history odyssey which includes geography, stack the states app for our home country, Dk geography workbooks and our Netflix subcription for the travel series offered.
I think geography to me is the study of countries and their cultures. I like to use everything like maps, internet, the globe, any atlas I can find, and books about the countries we are studying. I like “Around the world” coloring book the best.
Geography is the study of where countries, rivers, etc are located…?
I don’t have favorite geography resources yet, my son is just starting kindergarten this year.
I’m most excited about Give your child the world. It looks like such a great resource!
I like the Around the World in 80 Days coloring book, I think it would be a fun way to learn about different countries.
Geography is the study of the earth’s land and features. My favorite resource for geography has been the workbooks: Maps, Charts and Graphs. Those are great. My favorite product in the basket is the binoculars. LOL, just kidding. I like the Around the World in 80 Days book.
Geography is the study of the physical layout of the world- including landforms, countries and capitals. We love GeoMatters products- we are using Trail Guide to Learning this year and looking forward to it! We’ve never read “Around the World in 80 Days”- love to win so we can!
My favorite geography tools is Kathy Troxel’s Geography CD. I’d define geography as the study of the world. I’d love to win the drawing supplies.
Geography is the study of places, landforms, rivers, continents, countries etc.
My favorite geography resources are maps, tracing paper, and 3-part cards.
I am most excited about Jamie C. Martin, Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time because I have been reading many great reviews, waiting for the my turn for a library loan and anticipation to reading it myself. I am also interested in the coloring book-what a better way to learn geography then by doing a relaxing activity as coloring.
Geography is a rendering of the Earth, though I include cultures and languages in my consideration of geography.
My favorite resources for teaching my little girl about geography has so far been my own experiences of culture and language around the world. I’ll point out where I’m talking about on a map.
I’m most excited about the coloring book. My daughter loves to color. I think it would help the idea of places to become less abstract if she were coloring whatever place we might be talking about.
We love geography, the study of our world’s peoples and their lands
Geography is learning about our world! We love geography matters curriculum. I have been wanting to read the book Give your child the world! Hope to win. Thanks.
Geography is the study of the earth, it’s resources,landscapes, people, places and culture. MAPS! I LOVE MAPS! And the study of demographics. I’m most excited about Wondermaps.
I would define geography as the study of places in the world and the people that live there.
My favorite geography resource is the Trail Guide series by Geography Matters.
I’m most excited about the Wondermaps. I am always wanting to make a map a certain way.
I think of Geography as the world around you- from your own street and town to the other side of the world. I love the “Give your child the World” book! Thank you for the opportunity to win!