Games

For the younger kids, (and those of us who never learned geography when we were younger) Name That Country is fun. I’ve also heard good things about Borderline.

We also once did MFW’s Exploring Countries and Cultures, and they had a very simple game you could make yourself. Just download from somewhere a basic outline map of each of the continents individually–like one for North and Central America, one for South America, one for Africa, one for Europe, one for Asia. Each player will need a set of maps. Then make cards for each country you want to study. Label them on the back with the appropriate continent, and on the front put the country name. You can also add the capital on the reverse side fo the country if you want. You’ll want to make several of each nation–my sets, for myself and three children, have three of each country. You’ll also need pennies or other small items for gameboard markers for each child, and a die. You can play ALL the continents at once (much harder!) or just one or two. Put the game boards in front of each player, and shuffle and distribute the cards evenly between the players. Now, each player has to chart a course across teh country that includes each of the countries he’s drawn. Roll a die to move “spaces” from one country to a next (one “turn” per border) You need at least a roll of 4 to cross an ocean. The first player to “hit” each country he has a card for, then return to “home base” (whatever place you decided to start from) is the winner. You can make the older children tell the capital before checking that card off if you like.

Was that as clear as mud? LOL