Geography – Map Drill and …?

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  • missceegee
    Participant

    We’ve used map drill successfully, though this past year I let it slip along with a few other things due to health issues. We’ve only worked on continents, oceans and countries. We’ll be studying modern times this coming year and I’m debating what to cover. We could use work on a good deal of things, so I am considering North, South and Central American countries, US capitals, Canadian provinces. All of these the kids have about 1/2 knowledge of, so putting them together might work. 

    Do you ever have them do more than countries? Largest cities, capitals, rivers, etc? We read and notice the places on the map, but I’m having an “it feels too easy” moment. 

    We also play on the ipad a variety of games and such re. to geography.

    Thanks,

    Christie

    JennNC
    Participant

    Christie, I have found that people will very often refer to a place by city name rather than the name of the country, and my kids never know where it is. I’ve started having mine learn large cities and capitals both. I think it really helps them (and I discovered I had a few to learn as well). Wink 

    We’ve been using Seterra for a fun way to learn them along with the regular map drill. It’s addictive, really. 🙂

    Adding rivers is a great idea!

    anniepeter
    Participant

    What is Seterra?  A website?  And how about major mountain ranges, deserts, and the like that sometimes come up in conversation…just lightly to add some interest.

    JennNC
    Participant

    Seterra is fantastic and fun! Thanks JennNC!

    amandajhilburn
    Participant

    Love Seterra, too!! I play it all the time myself 🙂

    missceegee
    Participant

    Here’s a good resource for blank and labeled maps – http://www.printableworldmap.net

    Wow, Christie, that one is terrific. Is there any reason to purchase any of the other map products (i.e. Uncle Josh) when something like this is readily available and free? Please tell me if I’m missing something. (we will only be starting map drill in the next few weeks. I’m completely new to this but had been just assuming I’d need to buy and Uncle Josh type product).

    dztamra
    Participant

    I haven’t bought an map products so far. Just use the free online maps.

    amandajhilburn
    Participant

    In the SCM handbooks it says either buy the Uncle Josh’s maps or find good on-line sources. I’ve never bought anything either.

    missceegee
    Participant

    No, I don’t think it necessary to purchase. I’ve had Uncle Josh’s for years and that’s the only reason I use it. 

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    JennNC
    Participant

    I like that map site a lot, Christie. Pinning it to my education board. Thanks. 🙂

    In addition to studying the countries with map drills last year, I have bought a couple of large, nice hardback atlas books for kids that have the interesting facts about largest rivers, topographical info of regions, etc. Since these books are brightly illustrated and fun to look through, I leave them out near a reading chair and/or coffee table where my kids will naturally look through and read. They have learned a lot this way and I don’t have to formally teach. 🙂

    pslively
    Participant

    We are starting to build a personal atlas basing it upon the idea that Sonya posted recently from a friend of hers and how she had learned to do map study.   http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/map-study-explained   I tried it out a little myself.  We will be using tracing paper to trace the map though, rather than doing the transfer paper.  We will trace it first with pencil, then color and label it, then trace over the outline with sharpie in order to give them lots of exposure to the country borders, rivers, etc.   I am only doing this with my age 10 and up kids because I want them to really take their time with it and make it something special.

    missceegee
    Participant

    pslivelly, that is a very neat idea, but a bit more than I want to bite off for this year.

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